Credit card debt, like any other debt, does not give your creditors
license to harass you. There is a Federal law, the Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act, to protect you and your state may afford additional
legal protections. The U.S. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
forbids these collection actions from:
The use (or threat of use) of violence or other criminal means
to harm the physical person, reputation or property of any person.
The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural
consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone
conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy,
abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
The false representation or implication that the debt collector
is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States
or any State, including the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile
thereof.
The false representation or implication that any individual
is an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney.
The representation or implication that nonpayment of any debt
will result in the arrest or imprisonment of any person or the
seizure, garnishment, attachment or sale of any property or
wages of any person, when such action is unlawful or the debt
collector does not intend to take such action.
The false representation or implication that the consumer committed
any crime or other personal conduct, in order to disgrace the
consumer.
Communicating (or threatening to communicate) credit information
to any person which is known (or should be known) to be false,
including the failure to communicate that a disputed debt is
disputed.
The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates
or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued,
or approved by any court, official, or agency of the United
States or any State, or which creates a false impression as
to its source, authorization, or approval.
The false representation or implications that accounts have
been turned over to innocent purchasers for value.
The false representation or implications that documents are
legal process.
The false representation or implication that documents are *not*
legal process forms or do not require action by the consumer.
Communication with debtor at unusual (or known-inconvenient)
times or places.
Communication with third parties without debtor consent.
False or Misleading Representations including:
The threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or
that is not intended to be taken.
Communicating (or threatening to communicate) credit information
to any person which is known (or which should be known) to be
false, including the failure to communicate that a disputed
debt is disputed.
The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates
or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued,
or approved by any court, official, or agency of the United
States or any State, or which creates a false impression as
to its source, authorization, or approval.
