How California Consumers Should Deal with Debt Collectors Calling About a Relative

Typically, no California consumer likes receiving phone calls from debt collectors. However, what if you find out that they’re not calling for you, but a relative? Should you give them any information? If so, what should you tell the debt collection agent? Also, what questions are they allowed to ask? Finally, most California residents who receive these types of calls probably want to know how to make them stop. Luckily, a federal statute called the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates debt collector actions. In fact, under the statute, there are strict guidelines to which debt collectors must adhere. It is important for all Californians to know a few FDCPA basics and understand that consumers always have the power stop debt collection phone calls.

How Debt Collectors Locate the Family Members of Debtors in California

First, any California consumer who receives a phone call from a debt collector looking for their relative should not automatically assume that the family member gave out their number. When debt collectors want to find contact information for a debtor, they use a method called “skip-tracing.” This involves calling anyone who might have information about the debtor’s whereabouts. Usually, debt collection agents use websites like Spokeo to find the names and numbers of potential informants.

These days, debt collectors also turn to social media pages for information on debtors’ family members and friends. Unless California social media users set strict privacy controls, a lot of their personal information is viewable to anyone who cares to look. Therefore, if you want to reduce your chances of receiving unsolicited phone calls, reset your privacy controls. You can make it so that certain information is only accessible to friends/followers. As a bonus, this also helps in deterring identity thieves from gathering your data to commit fraud against you.

What Debt Collectors Can and Cannot Ask California Consumers When Calling About a Relative

When a debt collector calls a consumer in California about a debt owed by a relative, they can ask about their whereabouts and how to reach them. That’s it. Period. Unless the debtor gives debt collectors express permission to discuss the actual debt, they may not do so. In fact, under the FDCPA, debt collection agents are not even allowed to identify your relative as a debtor.

Keep this in mind if a debt collector reaches out to you in hopes of getting information about a family member. California consumers should also know that debt collectors are not permitted to call third-parties repeatedly. Instead, they get one phone call per person. In addition, debt collectors are prohibited from threatening or using harsh language with any consumer they call. So, if you choose to withhold information, debt collection agents may not berate, abuse, or belittle you.

What you choose to tell the debt collector (if anything) is entirely up to you. Or, if you believe that an agent has violated the FDCPA, you can take legal action against them.

How California Consumers Should Deal with Abusive Debt Collectors that Violate the FDCPA

Whether a debt collector calls for you or a relative, there are things that they can and cannot do. Yet, if they overstep their boundaries, you can make them stop and possibly sue them. California consumers don’t have to put up with any type of harassment or abuse from debt collectors. So, if you feel that a debt collector has violated the FDCPA and your rights, call Credit Repair Lawyers of America in California. We will make the debt collector harassment stop – for free. Then, if we file a successful lawsuit against them, you may receive damages for your trouble.

Stop Debt Collector Harassment in California

Don’t put up with abusive debt collectors. At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been ending debt collector harassment and cleaning up credit reports for consumers since 2008 for free. How do we do it? All of our fees come from the defendants in cases that are settled. This is why our clients pay nothing for the work we do.

Let’s start the conversation about what we can do for your credit. Set up your free consultation today by calling Attorney Gary Nitzkin at (855) 956-2089 or sending him a message through our contact page.

For more information about how to Stop Debt Collector Harassment for Free, please visit https://creditrepairlawyersam.com/california/debt-collector-harassment-ca/.