Written asked not to contact me at work and still do?

Question

I have missed 1 1/2 payments on my car lease agreement. I intend on doing a voluntary repo at the end of the month. However, I have given a written request for them not to contact me at work and they continue to call my employer and even told my boss that I was having problems with my lease. Is this not illegal for them to continue contacting me at work when I asked them not to? They haven't called my cell one time which I requested. What options do I have?

Answer 1

Send them another one this time with return receipt requested for proof of delivery. If they contact you again call your local attorney general and file a complaint and begin proceedings to sue them. You will not only NOT have to pay the balance on your car you can also sue them for the amount of money they are trying to collect from you on top of them paying fees and fines to the government. Good luck. This is harassment and illegal.

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I read over the part where they discussed this with your boss. Can you get a written statement of that fromyour boss? That is absolutely 100% illegal.

Answer 2

Where I'm from, it is illegal to do such things. Especially when you have given notice not to do so. And as I understand it, they cannot discuss "your" financial matters with anyone other than you are your spouse if you have one.

I use to work in some collections agencies, and when a debtor informs a collector not to call anymore, they have no choice but to comply. However, the next action from a collector is to seek legal action.

Also in collection agencies, we were always told not to speak of such matters to anyone other than debtor themselves or their spouse.

I don't really know who you could call about the way they handle their business. Maybe you could call the BBB or an attorney.

I should mention however, that sometimes when we had exhausted all our efforts in collecting money from a debtor, If they happened to be in the military, we could contact their commanding officer to make them pay their debts

Answer 3

The rules for contacting you at work vary state to state, but I think generally if they do not have another number to contact you at (home or cell) then they can call you at work. But not repeatedly.

They were definately in the wrong by telling your boss your business. Unless your boss told them he was your husband or something, or he is on the agreement, in which case they could discuss it with him (but if he isn't then he would be wrong for doing that.) Its got something to do with the Privacy Act.

The first thing to do would be to mail a certified letter to them. Keep a copy for yourself, and a copy of the signature when you get it showing that it has been received. After that, if they continue to call you at work, you would need to find out who enforces the Fair Debt Collection act in your state, and start a complaint with their department.

Answer 4

This is ABSOLUTELY illegal and they are putting your employment at risk.

Congress enacted federal legislation that regulates debt collectors and collection attorneys and protects the rights of debtors. This law, The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, requires that debt collectors and attorneys stop phoning you at home and at work once you ask them to stop. The law specifies that your request must be in writing, therefore, you should tell them to stop calling you at home and at work the next time they call, but then follow it up with a certified letter, return receipt requested.

If the debt collector refuses to comply with your do not call request you will have to quote the actual law:
You: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that you stop phoning me at home and at work once I request that you do so. I have already put my no contact request in writing. If you continue to phone me, then I will file a complaint with the FTC and the attorney general."

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act does not apply to original creditors, like a credit card company; it only applies to debt collection agencies and attorneys collecting debt. Therefore, do not quote the FDCPA to get original creditors to stop calling. Instead, quote state law which governs original creditors but usually has similar provisions to the federal legislation. Sample script:

You: It is my understanding that [Texas, Michigan, California] law requires that you stop phoning me at home and at work when I request that you do so, is that correct?

If a debt collector does contact you after you request that he stop, you might have the right to sue and collect damages.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if this is true or not but I have been told that it is illegal for anybody to contact someone at work concerning collections for unpaid bills. You might check into that and maybe you could sue them if it actually is illegal to do.

Answer 6

Are you dealing with the original creditor or a collection agency? I think the law may be different for the original creditor, but I don't think they should be able to tell your boss about your situation.

Look over the link below and see if it helps:

http://www.scconsumer.gov/faqs/fair_debt_collection_practices_act.htm

Answer 7

You can sue them under the Fair Credit Act, a federal statute. A friend collected $12,000 from a company.

Answer 8

Collection agencies are usually bound by laws that restrict what they can or can't do. These laws are rarely enforced unless the action taken is scandalous.

most governments, state or provincial, have a bureau which oversees them. you can complain to them, but don't expect much.

Answer 9

CONTACT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.....