LAWS THAT PROTECT THE BORROWER – UNTIL THEY DON’T. DEBT COLLECTORS TRICK CONSUMERS INTO BRINGING DEAD DEBTS BACK TO LIFE.

There are legal protections for the consumer if a creditor does not take steps to collect a debt in a certain period of time – referred to as the statute of limitations (in Arizona, depending on the type of debt, ranges from 2 to 6 years). Even though there is a debt, once it is beyond the statute of limitations the borrower cannot be sued.  But, debt collectors found a back door – they bully the borrower into paying “just a little” (somewhat like a whiny child).  The moment the borrower pays this “little bit” the statute of limitations starts all over.  The debt collectors are not required to notify the borrower about their rights.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a national standard for how debt collectors must explain to borrowers that they cannot be sued on an expired debt “zombie debt”.

Five Sample Letters to send debt collectors:

Wondering how to respond to a debt collector? Our sample letters can help if you:

• Need more information
• Do not owe the debt
• Want the debt collector to stop contacting you while you dispute the debt
• Want the debt collector to only contact you through a lawyer
• Want to specify how the debt collector can contact you

* These letters are not legal advice. You’ll also want to keep copies of any letters you send.

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW DEBT COLLECTORS TO CALL 7-TIMES A WEEK AND UNLIMITED EMAILING OR TEXTING (PUSHED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION)

An example of the Trump Administration working against the consumer: wants to allow debt collectors to call 7 times a week and text, email as much as they want, according to the Washington Post.

The Trump administration has been the war-path trying to limit the powers of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) because it was looking out for you and me, not the big banks, payday lenders, unscrupulous car dealers and others that prey on the consumer (you).  May 7, 2019 – issued a Notice of Proposed Rule-making to “modernize” the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (which has been law since 1977).  The 1977 law did not address digital communications.

Debt collectors monitor your Facebook and other social media accounts

The report discloses that debt collectors monitor Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to find former employers and family members and contact these people, with the hope to put pressure on the borrower to pay, when many times it is not a valid debt (wrong borrower, debt paid in full or identity theft).

MUSINGS FROM DIANE:

Many people, my Dad included, feel that if you don’t pay your bills, you deserve to be called every hour, on the hour, demanding payment.  In his mind, and many others like him, it is okay for debt collectors to call your office, neighbors, family and friends.  I remind him of the days when our family could not afford allowances or Christmas presents because his largest client had filed for bankruptcy (Dad was a mechanical engineer and operating out of our front room at that time).  Things were tight, but he does not remember that six decades later when he is financially stable.  Instead, he falsely assumes that everyone has a financially stable life and the reason someone does not pay their bills is because, they don’t want to.

Be Kind to Each Other