Receiving phone calls from a debt collection agency such as CBE Group can trigger stress and anxiety. Imagine how you will feel when you come home one night to an answering machine full of voicemails left by a third party debt collector.
Fortunately, a federal consumer protection law addresses dozens of previously legal debt collection tactics.
An Overview of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Passed by the United States Congress on September 20, 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits bill collectors from repeatedly calling consumers in regards to outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts. The landmark consumer protection law also bans debt collection agencies from using deception to trick consumers into handing over money to cover personal debts. For all of the provisions written into the FDCPA, does one provision specifically address the voicemails left by a third party debt collector?
![When Can CBE Group Leave a Voicemail?*]()
How the FDCPA Addresses Voicemails
The FDCPA includes several provisions that specifically deal with debt collection agency phone calls. For example, a third party debt collector is not allowed to call you after nine in the evening and before eight in the morning. However, the federal consumer protection law does not contain clear language on how consumers should handle the voicemails left by bill collectors. There is a provision your FDCPA attorney can use to stop CBE Group from leaving voicemails at home and at work.
Under the FDCPA, it is illegal for a bill collector to contact a third party concerning a delinquent consumer debt. Your FDCPA lawyer can apply this provision to any voicemails left by CBE Group. Let’s say you come home one night and your spouse is listening to the voicemails left by CBE Group. Since the FDCPA prohibits contact with third parties in regards to consumer debts, CBE Group might have violated the consumer protection law by leaving one or more voicemails on your home landline.
Other FDCPA Violations Involving Voicemails
After you speak with a licensed FDCPA lawyer, he or she will perform a thorough review of your case to determine if CBE Group did much more than simply leave voicemails. According to the FDCPA, a debt collection agency is prohibited from threatening you in any way. A third party debt collector cannot threaten to seize your property for liquidating it into cash. You also do not have to tolerate threats to contact a law enforcement agency or threats to reach out to one of your family members. The FDCPA also forbids bill collectors from calling consumer I at work.
Contact a FDCPA Attorney
By scheduling a free initial consultation with an experienced FDCPA lawyer, you will receive the legal guidance you need to fight back against CBE Group. Your attorney has several options to use for representing you in a FDCPA case. He or she can decide to file a civil lawsuit seeking monetary damages for the pain and suffering caused by a debt collection agency. Your FDCPA lawyer might opt to stay out of court by sending CBE Group a formal cease and desist notice.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against CBE Group or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.