How to Report Telephone Abuse by Collection Agencies

Debt collectors have the right to call you in order to collect on debts they have been hired to collect. However, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) established certain guidelines that they must abide by. Debt collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Once they receive a cease-and-desist telephone contact letter, they must abide by it. Once notified that you cannot receive telephone calls at work, they cannot continue to call your place of business. Debt collectors abusing these guidelines should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and your state's attorney general's office.

Instructions

Federal Trade Commission

1. Go to the FTC Web site and select the option to file a complaint. The FTC Complaint Wizard will open. Answer the series of questions regarding your complaint.

2. Identify the type of complaint that you are filing. Select the option for debt collectors or debt collection practices and indicate the reason why you are filing your complaint, such as repeated calls, calling outside the times established in the FDCPA, failing to abide by a cease-and-desist letter or calling your work after being notified not to.

3. Indicate whether you know the name and contact information of the company harassing you. If you do, provide that information. You need to provide details of your contact, such as the date of first contact, the amount of money they are requesting and the name of the company's representative.

4. Provide your personal information, including your name, address, phone number, age range and e-mail address.

5. Draft an explanation of the details surrounding your complaint. Include as much information as possible. Do not provide sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or financial information.

6. Confirm the information in your complaint is accurate. Verify that all the information you provided is correct. When you are sure everything is correct, submit the complaint. Your complaint will be forwarded to the FTC database. It's important to understand that the FTC does not resolve consumer complaints. This information is provided to the FTC to assist law-enforcement agencies.

State Attorney General

1. Draft a letter indicating the details surrounding your complaint. Include your personal information, the company information and the details surrounding your complaint.

2. Mail the letter to your state attorney general's office. You can find your attorney general's office on the National Association of Attorneys General Web site.

3. Call the state attorney general's office consumer help line. They may be able to take your complaint over the phone. You can also check their Web site to see whether you have the option to file a complaint on their Web site.

Resources

• National Association of Attorneys General: The Attorneys General