A collection agency and a law firm continually contact my parents (with whom I havent lived for over 20 years). Their phone number is unlisted. My father has even been cursed at. Is this legal?
2007-01-19 03:23:05 · 11 answers · asked by Maryanne E 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Absolutely not. They can call once to ask for you and try to find you. Other then that no they can not. They are in violation of the FDCPA. Go to the link I provided and read up on what to do. If you really need help email me. My passion is going after debt collectors.
2007-01-19 05:20:03 · answer #1 · answered by logan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When they charge off a debt, it means that they have given up trying to collect it. But if they sold the debt, then the collection agency that they sold it to will continue to try and collect it. Once they have hit a brick wall or the statute of limitations runs out for them, guess what, they sell the debt to another agency and the collections process begins all over again! What happened with the car is a common practice, just like with houses. A loan is taken out and the property goes to the person making the payments. If they default, whether by not paying or by returning the property, the property is repossessed. (Even if you turn it in, it's still considered a repossession.) Then the original maker of the loan sells the property sometimes for the remaining value of the loan, but most times for the highest amount they can get. If they get the full loan value (which they rarely ever do), then you owe them nothing, but if they get less than the remaining value, you owe the difference. And since they can keep selling the debt over and over, you'd be better off just trying to either make a settlement offer with the agency or pay it in full. One more thing: The Myth of collections. Most people believe that once a debt runs for 7 years (or the statute of limitations) that it automatically drops off. NOT true! What happens is, the original maker of the loan sells it to a collection agency. When that collection agency has done all it can, it turns around and sells the debt to another one. And so on. Each and every time that debt is sold, the statute starts over. So the 7 year thing only applies to the original maker of the loan. After that, it could stay on your credit forever, because the debt could continue to be sold, and with each new collection agency comes a new negative mark against your credit for non-payment. Each of these marks will take 7 years to drop off, but the current collections activity will stay. Which is why they sell the debt; you may not pay them, but they continue to ruin your credit each time you don't.
2016-03-29 04:42:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, straight answer...they cannot do that.
You need to call the agency or firm and inform them that you do not live at your parents and they cannot call their number. If they do, have your parents tell them firmly not to call the number again!
Check out the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act on the internet.
If you continue to have problems, contact a lawyer or police department to file harrassment charges!
2007-01-19 05:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they're cursing at your father, it's harassment. Are they trying to collect the debt from them, or are they trying to locate you? Most likely, you listed your parents as a reference or emergency contact on an application you filled out. In collections, references are gold when it comes to tracking down someone who's skipped out on a bill.
For your parents sake, call the collection agency and request that they only contact you and that they cease and desist all calls to your parents. Have your parents change there number, and for goodness sake, don't list them as references anymore.
2007-01-19 04:35:44 · answer #4 · answered by Janie O 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, its legal. Until your debt is paid, they have the right to contact you through any means necessary. Whether it's friends, family, neighbors (except in 1 state), or your high school gym teacher.
If you paid your bills, there would be no reason for anyone to try to contact anyone regarding your debts.
Why don't you suck it up, grab your check book, get the phone number from your dad, and call and take care of your responsibility. I can guarantee the calls would stop then.
2007-01-19 15:07:29 · answer #5 · answered by siren381 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, what they are doing is illegal. They are breaking a federal law...they are going against the Fair Debt Collection Act. File complaints with the FTC, your state Attorney General, and the Better Business Bureau. I had to do that when I had some collection agent bugging my in laws.
2007-01-19 17:35:22 · answer #6 · answered by Kris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to call them and request your parents number be remove and that you do not live there. Tell them not to call there ever again. You are going to have to give them your number. But at least they won't be calling your parents anyone.
2007-01-19 03:36:49 · answer #7 · answered by Nancy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, unless they co-signed on the debt in question.
Call the better business bureau, or better yet, the police.
2007-01-19 03:31:00 · answer #8 · answered by wax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ABC News is investigating those jerks:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/01/debt_collectors.html
2007-01-19 06:05:08 · answer #9 · answered by The Truth Hurts! Ouch! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out this site, it let's you shop for different debt elimination offers and select one that suits you perfectly!
2007-01-19 06:54:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋