We Can Put An Immediate Halt To Collection Activities
If you are living with debt, you understand the constant harassment and pressure that debt collectors and creditors can put on people. Every trip to the mailbox and every time your phone rings can set your nerves on edge.
Making it all that much worse is that most people who are being subjected to creditor harassment are working as hard as they can to pay off those debts. The unfortunate reality is that once people cross a certain threshold, there is almost no way out from under debt without professional help.
How Can Bankruptcy Help Me?
All types of bankruptcy include a benefit called the automatic stay. Immediately after filing for bankruptcy protection, your creditors must cease all collection activities or face fines and other possible penalties. Filing for bankruptcy put a stop to:
- Repossession
- Wage garnishments
- Bank levies
- Foreclosure
- Harassing phone calls and mail
We Have Provided Debt Relief For More Than 10,000 Clients
At Goldman & Beslow, LLC, we are here to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Securing real debt relief and freedom from creditor harassment is within your reach. We offer free one-half-hour consultations where we learn more about your situation and explain how bankruptcy can benefit you. We have been helping people get out from under difficult debt for more than 44 years, and we have helped more than 10,000 clients find their way to a brighter financial future. We can use that experience to help you.
Creditor Harassment FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about your rights and what you can do when dealing with debt.
What can I do to stop creditor harassment?
You should send a written cease and desist letter directly to the creditor or collection agency, clearly stating that you want them to stop contacting you. Keep detailed records of every communication by noting the date, time, name of the caller, company name, phone number and a summary of the conversation.
If your employer prohibits calls at work, inform the debt collector. Limit direct phone conversations with collectors once you have decided to pursue stopping harassment, relying instead on written communication.
Are collectors allowed to call me at home or my workplace?
A debt collector generally cannot contact you at your place of employment if they know your employer prohibits such communications. It is important to inform them if your employer does not allow these calls. Regarding contact at home, they can call, but they cannot do so at unusual times or places, like very early in the morning or very late at night, unless you agree to it.
They also cannot make repeated calls with the intent to annoy, abuse or harass you. New Jersey state laws also reinforce these federal protections against abusive collection practices.
Is it possible to pursue action if a debt collector harasses me?
Yes, if a creditor or debt collector violates your rights under the FDCPA or New Jersey’s consumer protection laws, you may have grounds to sue them. The FDCPA prohibits various harassing or deceptive practices, such as:
- Using threats of violence, publishing lists of debtors
- Misrepresenting the amount you owe
- Repeatedly calling to annoy you.
If you believe a collector has broken these rules, documenting every instance of harassment becomes crucial evidence. Successful lawsuits can result in compensation for damages you suffered, and the debt collector may even have to pay your fees.
Can a creditor talk to my family or friends about my debt?
Generally, creditors and debt collectors are very limited in who they can contact about your debt. Under the FDCPA, they are usually only allowed to contact third parties, such as your family or friends, for the sole purpose of finding out your location. They are not permitted to discuss your debt with these individuals. If a collector reveals details of your debt to a third party or uses this contact to harass them, they are likely violating federal law.
Creditor Harassment Attorneys Serving Northern And Central New Jersey
You do not have to live under the constant harassment of debt collectors. We offer a free one-half-hour consultation to help you begin fighting. To schedule a consultation, call 973-414-8069 or contact us online.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.