Can Credit Card Collectors Call Me at Work?

Debt collectors must abide by the rules in the Fair Debt Collection and Practices Act.

Debt collection agencies can implement many hardball tactics to have payments made on a debt that they have purchased or been assigned by a creditor, one of these tactics can include making calls to a consumer's place of business.

Significance

The Fair Debt Collection and Practices Act states that debt collection agencies can only call during "normal business hours." According to the Federal Trade Commission, these hours are defined as after 8 a.m. and before 9 p.m. in the time zone where the consumer resides. The collector can call a consumer at home, work or on a cell phone.

Considerations

If a consumer is represented by an attorney, the debt collector cannot contact the consumer about the debt at work or at home. In these cases, a debt collector can only contact and communicate about an unpaid debt directly with the attorney or his assistants.

Prevention/Solution

Consumers without legal representation who have debt collectors calling them at a place of business can inform the debt collector if they are unable to take personal calls at work. If the consumer is not allowed to take personal calls at work, the debt collector must cease and desist making phone calls to their place of business. Continuing to make phone calls once they have been informed that the consumer cannot take personal calls at work, puts the collection agency in violation of the Fair Debt Collection and Practices act, which can result in legal repercussion.

References

• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: When Hardball Taxes Go to Far
• Federal Trade Commission: Facts for Consumers
• FTC: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act