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The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a section of the US Consumer Credit Protection Act. It was added to the Consumer Credit Protection Act in 1978. It restricts bill collectors from using certain collection techniques that are considered harrassment.

You can learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – FDCPA – and how it protects you from debt harassment by visiting FairDebtHelpers.com for a free evaluation of your case by an experienced fair debt attorney.

Bill collectors must begin their contact with a consumer in a particular way. They must identify themselves as bill collectors and say that they will use any information they obtain in collecting the debt. Debtors must also be informed that they can dispute the debt.

There are limits on how bill collectors may communicate with consumers. They may not misrepresent the amount of the debt or use deception to collect it. In particular, they may not impersonate an attorney or police officer. They may not use profanity, or call repeatedly with intent to annoy, abuse, oppress, or harass.

Bill collectors are restricted in telling third parties about the debt. Specifically, they may only give information about the debt to the consumer’s attorney or spouse. They may not contribute consumer information to a “bad debt” blacklist. They also may not communicate through post card or identify a debt collection notice on the envelope.

In bad cases of harassment, attorneys get involved in debt collection issues. If a consumer hires a fair debt lawyer or bankruptcy lawyer to represent him, the bill collector must communicate through the lawyer, and not with the consumer directly.

The Federal Trade Commission has the power to enforce the FDCPA. Also, an individual consumer may file a lawsuit against a debt collector that violates the law. The FDCPA provides for statutory damages of up to $1000, in addition to attorney’s fees and actual damages.

Learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – FDCPA – and how it protects you from debt harassment. Visit FairDebtHelpers.com for a free evaluation of your case by an experienced fair debt attorney – http://www.fairdebthelpers.com