The Do’s and Don’ts of Debt Collection

The laws that govern debt collection agencies are known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. While the FDCPA keeps collection agencies in check and prevents a lot of unethical collection tactics, debt collectors are not completely barred from contacting you in order to recover the money you owe.

The following are legal methods with which a collection agency can attempt to collect a debt:

1. They can contact you via phone or email, including leaving voicemails and sending noticed through mail or email. You are allowed to request that they cease contact with you. Learn more here.
2. They can come to your door to collect a debt.
3. They can charge interest and fees if you are behind on your payments. While other debt collection companies may have different practices, please note that Convergent Outsourcing is a third-party outsourced solution, which means that any interest or fees on your original debt has been added by the original creditor, not by Convergent Outsourcing.
4. They can call you at work, unless you have notified the debt collector that your employer does not allow such calls or the state prohibits it. If they have been notified, the FDCPA states that they must then cease to call you at your place of employment.
5. In extreme cases, they can sue you. When accounts become severely delinquent, a collection agency may file a lawsuit against you as a last resort. Note that Convergent Outsourcing will not take direct legal action against you, although the original creditor for your debt may.

What a Debt Collector Can’t Do

The FDCPA was put in place to prevent harassment and debt collection scams. To find out more about what is and is not legal for collection agencies, check out the following articles:

• Debt Collection Laws & The Statute of Limitations 
• How to Stop Debt Collector Harassment 
• How to Deal with Debt Collectors