The Egan Legal Team Law Office of Jon M. Egan, PC

Many unscrupulous debt collectors will do anything to try to collect money from consumers, even when they don’t owe any money.  If you are being harassed by a debt collector, you should know that Oregon and federal laws protect you.  Here is a list of some of the things the law prohibits debt collectors from engaging in:

Harassment

Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, debt collectors may not:

• Use threats of violence or harm
• Publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau)
• Use obscene or profane language
• Repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone

False statements

Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:

• Falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives
• Falsely imply that you have committed a crime
• Falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau
• Misrepresent the amount of your debt
• Indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not
• Indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are

Debt collectors also may not state that:

• You will be arrested if you do not pay your debt
• They will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so
• Actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action

Debt collectors may not:

• Give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau
• Send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not
• Use a false name

Unfair practices

Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not:

• Collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such a charge
• Deposit a post-dated check prematurely
• Use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams
• Take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally
• Contact you by postcard

If you are being harassed by a debt collector, the Egan Legal Team may be able to help.  Contact our office fore more information.