When Does a Debt Collector Cross the Line?

A debt collector can cross the line in many different ways that violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The rule I always keep in mind is, “They must treat you with respect and dignity. They must not be contacting you solely to harass.” The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act doesn’t clearly define what harassment is, but what I always tell clients is that you’ll know it when you see it. For example, if the phone rings every day at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm – then that’s meant to harass you. It’s a pattern of harassment, especially if it happens day after day. Under Florida law, you can’t record audio without their permission, but you can write down what times a debt collector calls you and what they say to you. For much more on this please watch the video.