Page 28 - Book1E

20
Debt Collectors and Fair Practices
What control do you have over payment of debts?
If you owe more than one debt, any payment you make must be applied to the debt you indicate. A debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you believe you do not owe.
Prohibited Debt Collection Practices
Debt collectors are prohibited from using certain methods of debt collection, including the following:
Harassment
Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, debt collectors may not use threats of violence or harm, publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau), use obscene or profane language, or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy you.
False statements
Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:
• Falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives.
• Falsely imply that you have committed a crime.
• Falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau.
• Misrepresent the amount of your debt.
• Indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not.
• Indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.