Once upon a time in America, debt collection agencies could do just about anything they wanted to do in attempts to coerce consumers into taking care of personal debts. From using abusive language to making ultimatums, most third party debt collectors treated consumers like they were runaway fugitives from the Wild, Wild West era. The overly aggressive way in which bill collectors treated consumers immediately came to halt in 1977, when the United States Congress passed the monumental Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
According to the FDCPA, it is illegal for a bill collector such as Prince Parker & Associates to implement a debt collection plan that includes trying to recover more money than what is actually owed on a credit card or a personal loan account. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collection agencies from calling consumers at home and at work between the hours of 9 pm and 8am. Perhaps the most important provision written into the FDCPA forbids the seemingly timeless practice of issuing threats in attempts to intimidate consumers.
How the FDCPA Addresses Threats
Congress was clear with its intent to ban specific types of threats made by bill collectors to consumers. For example, a representative from Prince Parker & Associates is not allowed to threaten any of your relatives. This tactic is used to bypass consumers that are in over their heads in debt. A debt collection agency cannot threaten to garnish your wages. However, the company is completely within the law by requesting a judge approve a wage garnishment order.
One of the most effective threats involves the seizing of private property. After several attempts to encourage you to pay off an outstanding credit card or personal loan balance, Prince Parker & Associates might resort to threats that include seizure of your home and surrounding land. The threat to seize private property is done to make consumers insecure about holding on to their homes. Third party debt collectors want consumers to believe that asset seizure leads to the liquidation of assets into cash to pay off consumer debts.
![Did Prince Parker & Associates Threaten You?*]()
How to Fight Back against Prince Parker & Associates
A bill collector like Prince Parker & Associates does not want consumers to learn about the rights granted by the FDCPA. If the debt collection agency threatened you, a licensed consumer protection attorney who specializes in handling FDCPA cases can provide the legal direction you need to fight back against Prince Parker & Associates. Your FDCPA lawyer will conduct an exhaustive investigation into your case to determine whether you qualify for monetary damages.
Some FDCPA cases require the implementation of a legal strategy other than filing a lawsuit in civil court. After presenting all the information you have on Prince Parker & Associates, your FDCPA lawyer might suggest trying to negotiate a debt settlement or sending a formal cease and desist notice to the third party debt collector.
A cease and desist notice is similar to the injunctive relief decree handed down by a civil court judge in that it demands a stop to all forms of communication between you and a third party debt collector.
Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced consumer protection attorney today to learn more about the legal protections granted by the FDCPA.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Prince Parker & Associates, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.