Top 20 Illegal Debt Collection Tactics

The Top 20 ILLEGAL Debt Collection Tactics

Threatening you with with violence or bodily injury or harm.
Publishing a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts.
Using obscene or profane language.
Repeatedly calling your phone in an attempt to annoy you.
Claiming that they are attorneys or government representatives when they are not.
Falsely claiming that you have committed a crime.
Falsely representing that they operate or work for a credit reporting company.
Misrepresenting or exaggerating the amount you owe.
Indicating that papers they send you are legal forms when they aren’t.
Indicating that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms when they are.
Giving false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company.
Sending you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it isn’t.
Using a false company name.
Trying to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge.
Depositing a post-dated check early.
Taking or threatening to take your property unless it can be done legally.
Contacting you by postcard.
Saying you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt.
Stating that they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so.
Saying legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.