The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a powerful law that helps protect consumers, including Alabama consumers, from abusive and harassing debt collectors.
In this article we’ll take a dive into the following:
What is the purpose of the FDCPA
What is a “debt collector” under the FDCPA
Who is a consumer under the law
What debts are covered and not covered under the FDCPA
What type of conduct is forbidden
Exactly what is a debt collector required to… (Read more)
Is A Debt Collector Harassing You Illegally?
Find Out What Your Rights Are So You Can Take Action Against Abusive Debt Collectors!
We realize that dealing with debt collectors can be intimidating. Not just because abusive collectors are intimidating but also because you may not fully understand your rights and what collectors can, and cannot, do in collecting a debt from you.
We have laid out some typical questions that we are asked by Alabama consumers who want to know… (Read more)
FDCPA: Why debt collectors call third parties and why the cases are valuable
Recently, we discussed who qualifies as a third party under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
Now, I want to look at why debt collectors call third parties and why these cases are so valuable.
There are two situations in which debt collectors will contact a third party.
Calling to obtain “location information” can be a legitimate reason – if they do it right.
Location information… (Read more)
Can a debt buyer truly collect against me?
We are frequently asked if debt buyers can really collect against a consumer.
I’ve been a consumer protection lawyer for a long time, and a big part of my practice is dealing with these debt buyers who claim to have bought a debt.
They will tell you they have bought the debt, but is this true?
Do they have any right to collect?
Does it make a difference if they have bought… (Read more)
What happens with your credit report after you win your collection trial?
When you are in court and you win, what happens with your credit report after the trial? You want the debt removed from your report, but how does this happen?
Do you ask the judge?
Does this happen automatically?
In this post, we’ll discuss how to wrap things up after you win.
You’ve won your court case. What happens with your credit report now?
The judge does not… (Read more)
FDCPA: Get a statement when a debt collector calls a third party
One of the most terrible violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) that debt collectors make is contacting a third party about a debt.
What is a “third party”?
A third party is anybody other than you, your spouse, or your lawyer.
Everyone else in the world is a third party.
There are very strict rules about when a debt collector can contact a third party,… (Read more)
What should I do if I want to defend my own collection lawsuit?
You’ve been sued and you’ve made the decision to defend yourself in your own collection lawsuit.
You’re not going to hire a lawyer, or give up, or even settle.
You want to defend yourself and fight the lawsuit.
What should you do?
If possible, go to court and watch your particular judge.
At the time of this article, in 2020, we are still in the middle of… (Read more)