Unlawful Calls

You are sitting at your desk. Your shirt is neatly ironed; your face displays a serious, busy expression. The clock shows between nine and five.

Your eyes are focused on the computer screen in front of you. The weekly report is due at the end of the day and you feel the pressure.

Suddenly, the loud ring of the telephone jolts you away from your project.

You pick up the receiver, “Hello, may I help you?”

“Oh yes you can help me alright. You should know my voice all too well by now. It is me again. I call you daily to your house and I call your cell phone too. I try to reach you all day and sometimes I get lucky. I leave threatening voicemail messages when you don’t answer. I am your shadow, err, debt collector. I Gotchya at work this time! Now let’s go, take out your check book and pay your past due balance.”

Your face turns red. You feel the heat searing through the coils in the phone cord, “Do not call me at work. Never call me here again!”

“(…giggles with the voice of a grinch) That’s too bad.I have your extension number now… you will sure be hearing from me tomorrow at this number again.”

You slam the receiver back into its place. You feel overwhelmed. Not only are you suffering fromthe stresses of today’s economy and you are drowning under the weight of your debt, but now they even come after you at work. You feel disrespected, abused and harassed – upset that they got you this angry. You are worried that your coworkers will find out about the debt you owe. You feel lost and helpless.

A debt collector may not call you at work if your employer does not allow you to receive such calls.

They may not communicate to a third party that you owe a debt.

They may not harass or threaten you or use abusive language.

If a debt collector calls you at work even after you tell them to stop, and is otherwise harassing you – you should learn how to protect your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). You may be able to sue them and recover damages under the consumer laws. Do not let them ruin your career and reputation. Contact our law office today for a free consultation.