What do I do if a bill collector is threatening me?
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What do I do if a bill collector is threatening me?
I was contacted by a woman who said she was an investigator for a law firm. She said that Idefaulted on a on-line pay day loan in 2006. The on-line application contained all of my personal information but the middle 2 numbers of my social had been transposed. She was accusing me of identity theft. She said that she could not prove intent but could prosecute me for negligence, because the debt ended up on someone else’s credit report. She she was going to have me arrested and that I should contact an attorney. We were disconnected and I tried to call back several times to get more information.
Asked on September 18, 2010 under Bankruptcy Law, Texas
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). If in fact she was calling on behalf of or as a debt collector she could be in VERY big trouble. Did you get her name? You got her number. Did she call from the firm or just state the name of the firm? I would contact the law firm and ask for their fax number then write a letter and fax it to them indicating what happened and they are without a doubt violating the FDCPA and that you intend on reporting her, them and possibly filing a grievance. See where that gets you. And I would seriously consider reporting her. Good luck.
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