CNN: Debt Collection Practices Exposed

An interesting article was published the other day on CNN about the outrageous, illegal, and downright immoral practices of debt collectors.  What makes the article particularly interesting is that it's told from the perspective of former debt collectors, many of whom simply couldn't take the terrible practice any longer. 

From making calls day and night to elderly people hard of hearing to faxing a person's workplace about the money they owed, we had to do whatever it took. 

I had a client just today complain about a creditor faxing their workplace.  This type of conduct is not uncommon.  Each collector has a quota, and if they don't meet it they're let go.  Many debtor get frustrated and angry with the collector, which only pushes the collector to get more aggressive with his next call.  The whole process is a vicious cycle in which neither side wins.

If you're getting calls or faxes at work, or experiencing other abusive or harassing behavior by your creditors, you should do two things: First, start noting the date, time, number, and content of the messages.  This can later be used as evidence.  

Next, contact a consumer law attorney.  These debt collectors are violating either the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or the lesser known Michigan Collection Practices Act.  The reason these people get away with this conduct is because no one calls them out on it.