Not really. Debt collectors are not permitted to contact your friends, family, neighbors, or employer to inform them about your debt. They can, however, call around to known contacts if they can’t find or get in touch with you. The debt collector’s authority is very limited in such cases, and he cannot generally tell contacts about the debt or the reason he is calling. If he does, you might be entitled to sue the debt collection agency and get money.
If anyone other than your spouse found out about your debt from a debt collector, immediately contact national FDCPA enforcement lawyer Jibrael S. Hindi. He might hold the company liable for this illegal disclosure and help you stop unlawful debt collection attempts. Call (844) 542-7235 or connect with his consumer protection team online for free.
In general, you have a right to privacy when it comes to debt collection communications. Agents must ensure they’re speaking with the debtor before identifying themselves as debt collectors. The agency is also prohibited from labeling envelopes as debt collection attempts and even leaving detailed messages about the debt.
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors can only contact another person to find out where you are or how to get in touch with you. During this process, agents must follow these rules:
Debt collectors must generally limit all communications with others, including your employer, to asking questions about where you live, your phone number, and where you work. They can identify their employer only if the other person specifically asks for that information.
Some exceptions apply to the general contact rule if you’re married or a minor. However, debt collectors who violate the location information (15 U.S.C. 1692(c)) or third-party communication rules might be held accountable in court. An experienced FDCPA enforcement lawyer can sue the debt collection agency for your actual damages, such as emotional distress from the shame and even job loss.
You can alternatively obtain statutory damages, generally limited to $1,000, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. In some cases, your lawyer might also sue the debt collector for additional privacy violations or trigger a class action lawsuit for all consumers impacted by these unlawful practices. You might obtain significantly more money in such cases.
If a debt collector shared personal information about your debts with someone else, you may be entitled to substantial damages. Discuss your rights under the FDCPA and federal privacy laws with experienced consumer protection lawyer Jibrael S. Hindi for free today. He might hold debt collectors accountable in court and even help you obtain money damages. Call (844) 542-7235 or connect with his debtor’s rights team online.