What is Collections Law?

Use these links to jump to different sections:

• Overview
• Common Questions
• Finding the Right Attorney for Your Needs
• Why Should I Talk to a Lawyer?

It can be very stressful to find yourself receiving constant debt-collection calls. Knowing a little bit about the process—and your legal rights—can be helpful for navigating this situation.

If you have received collection calls or notices of collection actions from debt collection agencies, you may want to act quickly to resolve the debts and protect your assets. Whether you believe you own the debt or not, it can be helpful to speak with a lawyer, as they can advise you of your options, your rights, and the legal process involved.

Overview

Common types of debt include mortgages, credit card debt, medical debt, and student loan debt. These loans and bills often include repayment terms. If those terms are not met, the person or company who provided the loan or service (called the creditor) can begin collection actions. There are two main components to a collection action: the person or company collecting the debt and the process they use.

Debt Collectors

Debt collectors exist in two general categories. They can either be first-party collectors or third-party collectors. A first-party collector is the person, company, government, or original creditor to whom the debt is owed. A third-party collector is a debt collection company that collects debt for someone else. Third-party collectors often have contracts with creditors that creates a system wherein the collectors will receive a portion of the amount collected. Third-party collectors may be debt buyers who purchase debts from creditors, becoming first-party collectors.

Debt Collection

Collection terms are often laid out between you (the debtor) and the first-party collector (creditor). The creditor can follow the procedures laid out in the contract, or they might file a lawsuit for breach of contract. If they sue, they might obtain a judgment, which can then be enforced through state law. Debt collection agencies might serve a writ of execution, which allows law enforcement to seize assets to cover the debt. And some states allow creditors garnishment of the debtor’s wages.

There are limitations on debt collection activities, however, including statutes of limitation and record-retention rules. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to third-party collectors and prohibits many abusive practices, including:

• Phone calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Debt collector contacts after a request to cease further communication
• Contact the person at work after a request to stop
• Misrepresenting the amount of the debt
• Threatening legal action that is not possible
• Using abusive or profane language
• Submitting false information to credit reporting agencies

Additionally, debt collectors must provide you with a validation notice, either on their first contact with you or via a written notice within five days after their first contact. The notice gives verification of the debt by stating:

• How much you owe
• The name of the creditor you owe
• How to find out the original creditor or lender
• What to do if it is not your debt

Common Questions

It’s essential to know your rights as a debtor. Below are some common questions you might want to consider when meeting with an attorney for the first time.

1. What are your attorney’s fees and billing options?
2. What do I do if my debt was sent to collections without notice?
3. How long can a company try to collect debt before it is time-barred by the statute of limitations?
4. When can a debt collector call you?
5. What if I don’t think I owe the debt? How do I verify this isn’t a scam?
6. What do I do if the debt collector violated debt collection laws?
7. How do I avoid a default judgment?

Finding the Right Attorney for Your Needs

It is important to approach the right type of attorney—someone who can help you through your entire case. To do so, you can visit the Super Lawyers directory, and use the search box to find a lawyer based on your legal issue or location.

To help you get started, you may want to consider looking for a lawyer who practices collections law.

Why Should I Talk to a Lawyer?

A lawyer can represent you in court, help you negotiate a repayment plan or challenge the type of debt you don’t believe you owe. They can also represent you if you have been subjected to aggressive collection tactics in violation of the law. Experienced lawyers know the law well and can help you understand your options and the timeline for exercising your rights.

A lawyer will further be able to anticipate potential problems with your case and offer legal advice to you on how to approach them, as well as keep track of deadlines and file all the paperwork with the necessary courts and agencies—giving you one less thing to worry about.