VOICE MAIL CASE

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It's amazing what debt collectors and the level of harassment they are allowed to inflict on people in the US.

They are not allowed to harrass. People just let them get away with it. Record your calls if you are being harrassed.

Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

In 1977, a consumer law was passed by Congress called the

Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to protect you from

unfair collectors. The law technically only applies to collection

agencies (not your creditor), but later court cases make most

creditors also abide by the FFDCPA.

• The Act states that harassment is illegal, and restricts a

collector’s calls between the hours of 0800 and

2100 (unless they have your permission).

• The Act also allows you to demand that a creditor cease

calling you at work. You should request this in

writing by certified mail with return receipt requested.

• The Act even allows you to insist that a creditor stop all

contact except to notify you of lawsuit proceedings.

• Do not use a cease-and-desist letter except in horrible

situations, because all negotiations stop and any

hope of a positive resolution is lost.

• No collector or creditor may take a bank account or

garnish (attach) wages without proper and lengthy

court action, except in the case of delinquent IRS or student

loan debt. All such threats are a bluff.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Phone: (202) 326-2222

Address: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20580

Website: www.ftc.gov

[luckytxn 2,265]

They used to call me looking for my brother and I told them that to call no more as this is not his number. The lady asked me how does she know that this is not his number or residence and I told her because I said so and never to call and harrass me again about him. Never heard from them again

[SMR 368]

Why? Did he suffer financial loss of any sort? Oh you mean mental anguish. Too bad such idiocy does not hold up in any other first world judicial system.

The company should have been fined for that behavior but this guy should not have been paid-out for it.

My point exactly. It makes perfect sense to punish the collector and probably the collection agency. But rewarding the victim is not productive or even just.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Do you say that from the perspective of thinking there should be more punishment for the offender or more reward for the victim?

Well, that's kind of an odd question since one equals the other, but......I'd say it's important to punish this kind of behavior.

[SMR 368]

Well, that's kind of an odd question since one equals the other, but......I'd say it's important to punish this kind of behavior.

Actually, I see this as a crucial question and not odd at all. One only equals the other if you refuse to think outside the box in terms of what types of things the court can do. As I mentioned in my other post, fines, community service, and even jail time all should be on the table.

$1.5 million is a lot of money but I could be persuaded to believe that it's not a sufficient punishment for the offenders. However, it's an excessive amount of money for the victim to receive considering he has suffered no lasting or even measurable harm. While a strong judgment does send the message to would be offenders to not try it, it also encourages and rewards self-victimization and frivolous lawsuits.

If you think we need to extract more money from the offender, I would suggest the money go into public coffers or an appropriate charity. There is no reason to further reward the offended.

[Fandango 1,440]

#######???? that is just insane.

[O & C 3]

#######???? that is just insane.

Hahahaha

[john & jean 37]

when they call me, I put the wife on...

she speaks four languages, other than English!

works every time

[O & C 3]

when they call me, I put the wife on...

she speaks four languages, other than English!

works every time

Hahahaha, I'm sure that would make them hang up the phone..

[Fandango 1,440]

Hahahaha

did I miss teh funny?