Can you escape debt collector harassment through bankruptcy?

No one wants to deal with the pressure of a debt collector on top of the distress that debt alone brings on. Unfortunately, some debt collectors also overstep their bounds and begin harassing people they want to collect from, even though this is illegal.

Can you do anything if you end up harassed by a debt collector? Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself, your family and your assets.

Protection under the FDCPA

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights potential signs of debt collector harassment, which you should retain awareness of when deciding what actions to take. Debt collectors must abide by certain guidelines set by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which disallows things like verbally threatening or cursing out anyone.

The FDCPA also determines what times and how often in a day a debt collector can call, what messages they can leave, how they must conduct themselves in person and on the phone, and more.

But what happens if you face these behaviors? You can contact an attorney to see what your legal options are, as you can actually take debt collectors to court and sue for damages if they violate the FDCPA.

Filing for bankruptcy

You can also file for bankruptcy, which puts an automatic freeze on any collection efforts. In other words, the debt collectors plaguing you will not legally have a leg to stand on and must cease their communications with you immediately, no matter what form they were communicating with.

You can choose to take both of these actions as well, pursuing damages while also preventing debt collectors from making any further attempts at contacting you. Consider speaking with an attorney to learn more.