Student loan debt is a huge problem for many consumers in Georgia and every other U.S. state. In fact, student loans are the reason why so many Georgia millennials are putting off home purchases and other major life decisions. Now, unfortunately, another negative effect of student loan debt has come to light. In 19 states, including Georgia, consumers can lose their state-issued professional licenses if they default on their student loan payments. This means that, until they can get current with their payments, they can’t work. Of course, many lawmakers and consumer rights advocates see the obvious flaw in this plan. Yes, such an extreme measure gets the attention of Georgia consumers with past-due student loan debt. However, how are they supposed to make payments if they can’t generate income?
Why the State of Georgia Seizes Professional Licenses When Student Loans Go Unpaid
According to a recent article from The New York Times, approximately 8,700 professional licenses were documented as seized in the U.S. in recent years. Sadly, this number most likely represents a fraction of the actual number of licenses revoked due to unpaid student loan debt. Out of the 19 states that utilize this strategy to get debtors to pay, only a few keep records of revoked licenses.
Lawmakers from participating states like Georgia believe that many consumers who aren’t currently making payments on their student loans will respond to this “last resort” measure. So, many nurses, teachers, lawyers, and real estate brokers are forced out of their jobs. Some manage to scrape together enough money to get their student loan payments current and get their licenses reinstated. Yet, others are not so lucky. Some Georgia consumers struggling with student loan debt are forced to take alternate, lower-paying jobs when the state suspends their professional licenses. From here, they may toil away for years in hopes of getting back on track with their chosen careers.
Fortunately, indebted Georgia professionals facing license suspensions may have new hope. Already, several states that can legally pursue this tactic choose alternate measures. Lawmakers from these states, along with various groups, including the American Federation of Teachers, are working to overturn these laws.
In the meantime, Georgia residents in danger of losing their professional licenses can seek assistance through various non-profit organizations. These individuals should also know their rights when it comes to dealing with student loan debt collectors. Clearly, they are already dealing with a big enough challenge. They shouldn’t also have to face the frustrations caused by abusive debt collector harassment.
How Georgia Consumers Should Deal with Abusive Student Loan Debt Collectors
Even if you owe money on past-due student loan payments, debt collectors may not use abusive tactics with you. A federal statute called the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates debt collectors in Georgia and every other state. Therefore, if debt collection agents violate the FDCPA, they break the law and may face fines and other penalties.
Among other things, student loan debt collectors may not call you at inconvenient hours. They are also prohibited from using abusive language with you or making threats that they cannot keep. For example, debt collectors cannot threaten Georgia consumers with jail time or the confiscation of their property. In addition, the FDCPA does not allow debt collectors to harass your family members, co-workers, or neighbors or discuss your debt with them.
If, however, a debt collector takes any of these actions against you, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, you have the legal right to make them stop. You also don’t have to deal with this problem on your own. Instead, Georgia residents harassed by debt collectors can call Credit Repair Lawyers of America. When you contact our firm, an experienced FDCPA attorney will do whatever it takes to make the abuse stop – for free. In some cases, we can even collect damages on your behalf when we file successful actions against FDCPA violating debt collection agencies.
The Free and Legal way to End Debt Collector Harassment
Being harassed by debt collectors is bad enough, but when incorrect collections make it on to your credit reports and bring your credit score down, that’s even worse. At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been cleaning up credit reports for consumers since 2008 for free. How do we do it? All of our fees come from the defendants in settled cases. 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 (404) 591-6680 or sending him a message through our contact page.
For more information about Free Legal Help with Debt Collector Harassment, please visit https://creditrepairlawyersam.com/stop-debt-collectors/.
