Ventura Creditor Harassment Attorney

Protecting You From Inappropriate Collection Efforts

Millions of people around the country are struggling with debt every day, and to add insult to injury, they are forced to deal with intimidation, threats, and other forms of harassment by their creditors.  The fact that you owe money to credit card companies, banks, or other entities does not give anyone free rein to treat you like a second-class citizen.  You might not even owe the creditor any money, and you may simply be the victim of unwarranted targeting.  You have the right to be free from unlawful and unacceptable behavior by creditors.  When debt collectors engage in harassing and other unlawful behavior, you not only have the right to make them stop, but you may even have the right to collect punitive damages.  With the help of a seasoned debt harassment attorney, you can be free from inappropriate conduct by creditors and debt collectors, and you can work on getting your finances in order on your own terms.

The California debt relief and debt harassment attorneys at Rounds & Sutter LLP have decades of combined experience dealing with all manner of creditors and debt collectors.  We know their tactics, we know what kind of pushback will put them on their heels, and we know the law.  If you are being harassed by debt and bill collectors, or if you are unsure whether aggressive debt collection efforts qualify as harassment, reach out to a creditor harassment lawyer at Rounds & Sutter for advice and representation.

What Constitutes Creditor Harassment?

Debt collectors and creditors are allowed to inform you of the debt that you owe and to remind you periodically as certain deadlines pass.  They can also inform you of the legal actions they are permitted to take in connection with collecting on your debt.  They are not allowed to harass, intimidate, or make you fear for the safety of your family.  Actions that constitute intimidation, abuse, coercion, bullying, or browbeating are not allowed.  Threatening you with things they are not legally allowed to do, or scaring you with made-up legal consequences, is also not allowed.

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits the abuse of consumers in connection to debt collection efforts, and the law gives a long list of examples for what types of conduct are prohibited.  Examples of illegal harassment include, but are in no way limited to, the following:

• Making constant, repeated phone calls with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass
• Threatening any sort of violence or committing any act of violence against you, your family, or any other person or property
• Threatening to tarnish your reputation
• Using obscene or inappropriate language
• Falsely representing that the debt collector represents a government agency, an attorney, or a law enforcement officer
• Misleading a consumer on the amount of debt outstanding, the due date of a payment, or any other terms of the debt
• Implying that nonpayment of debt can result in incarceration or criminal charges

Fighting Back Against Debt Harassment

Pushing back against aggressive debt collectors can be difficult.  Many creditors and professional debt collectors will not be deterred by consumers alone; they believe they have all the power, and they will try to intimidate you into submission.  When you hire a seasoned and qualified debt harassment lawyer, however, your lawyer becomes the new point of contact.  You are already given a measure of relief by the fact that the creditor must now communicate with your lawyer, instead of harassing you directly.  Let us deal with the bill collectors on your behalf while we investigate whether their conduct is wrongful and whether you even have a debt to repay.

Your debt harassment lawyer can help you fight back against aggressive conduct of debt collectors by, for example:

• Calling or sending a letter threatening legal action for continued inappropriate conduct such as showing up at your house, sending threatening letters, or making harassing phone calls
• Requesting validation of their interest in your debt and calculation of the debt that you purportedly owe
• Contesting the debt
• Building a case for harassment if the conduct does not stop, including by:
  • Collecting copies of letters, phone records, and security camera footage
  • Hiring private investigators to learn about the debt collector, their practices, and their history
  • Researching other cases involving this debt collector
• Finding debt-relief alternatives, including bankruptcy, abatement, or modification

Protect Your Finances, Your Quality of Life, and Your Freedom from Harassment

No matter whether a debt is valid or how much you owe, you have the right to be treated appropriately.  Illegal calls, visits, letters, and threats are never acceptable.  No one is allowed to show up and take your personal property, your car, or try to kick you out of your home without appropriate legal process.  If you suspect that you and your family are being subjected to inappropriate and unlawful conduct by creditors or debt collectors, you have the right to fight back.  The creditor harassment attorneys at Rounds & Sutter are ready to help.  Call our Ventura debt relief law offices today for a free consultation.