You arrive to work one day and the first thing you notice is the work phone voice mailbox blinking an alert that you have messages. When you hit the play button, the first message is from a debt collection agency demanding that you pay off an outstanding personal loan balance.
Stunned by the message, you slump into your chair and wonder how you can get out of the financial mess.
Despite numerous legal protections granted by a groundbreaking consumer protection law, third party debt collectors such as Ad Astra Recovery have the power to call consumers on the job.
Bill collectors must abide by several provisions that prevent harassment of consumers, but simply making a phone call to collect a delinquent consumer debt is permitted by state and federal statutes.
Nonetheless, consumers have many methods to implement that will swiftly end the phone calls made by debt collection agencies at work.
How a Lawyer Can Help You End Bill Collector Phone Calls
Enacted by the United States Congress in 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) represents a comprehensive set of provisions that protect consumers against the aggressive tactics used by many third party debt collectors.
A debt collection agency like Ad Astra Recovery Services is not allowed to threaten you in any way, as well as not to use abusive language in an attempt to coerce you to pay what you owe on an outstanding credit card or personal loan account.
Third party debt collectors are not allowed to implement deceptive debt collection techniques that include impersonating a law enforcement agency and claiming to have spoken to one or more family members about your debt. The FDCPA also places a limit on the time when a bill collector can call you.
Getting the most out of the FDCPA requires consumers to work with licensed lawyers that specialize in litigating consumer protection law cases. Just hiring an experienced consumer protection lawyer that has earned a reputation for winning FDCPA cases can be enough to get Ad Astra Recovery off your back.
Debt collection agencies bank on consumer ignorance when attempting to collect delinquent debts. With a FDCPA attorney on your legal team, you balance the scale of power between you and Ad Astra Recovery Services.
Your lawyer might send a formal notice to Ad Astra Recovery Services explaining you will inform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state Attorney General Office about one or more violations of the FDCPA.
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The FDCPA and Monetary Damages
Filing a lawsuit against a debt collection agency for violating one or more provisions of the FDCPA accomplishes two things. First, it stops the illegal debt collection practices. Second, the FDCPA permits consumers to file civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages.
Some of the reasons for seeking financial compensation for one or more FDCPA violations include physical and emotional duress. You can also seek compensation to cover the cost of attorney fees, which in a protracted civil trial can run thousands of dollar.
The FDCPA grants consumers a one-time financial award of $1,000 for statutory damages that cover every violation of the federal consumer protection law.
Speak with a consumer protection lawyer to ensure you receive all the legal rights granted by the FDCPA.
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 Ad Astra Recovery Services or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.