Determined debt collectors are adapting to the times and taking advantage of social networking tools to embarrass debtors into squaring up with them.
A Florida women has taken one collection agency to court saying they used Facebook to harass her and her family over an unpaid car loan. The women is seeking an injunction to prevent the agency from using Facebook to contact her.
Her lawyer says Facebook has become a powerful harassment tool. It is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind.
I have never had any debt issues but is seems to me that creditors have a right to try and collect that money. If they don't talk to you, how can they know your situation? You should deal with collection agencies in a forthright and professional manner.
That being said, there are rules that collection agencies need to follow.
If you believe a collection agency is harassing you, keep a record of the time, date and frequency of the calls. If you decide to make a formal complaint against the collection agency you will require this information.
Collection agencies may not contact your friends, relatives, neighbors or employer for any information other than your address or telephone number, with limited exceptions. These involve special cases, when, for example, someone has co-signed for a good or service you have purchased.
Just do not ignore them or bury your head in the sand. The bills will not go away and the people charged with collecting have a job to do. Just explain your situation and try and make some arrangement to repay your debt.
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