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collector should not include language to indicate that the mail is from a debt collector or that the letter relates to the collection of a debt. In short, the collector should take reasonable measures to assure your privacy. For example, if the collector knows that you share your address with others, it may be required to mark the letter “personal” or “pri- vate” and not give any outward appearance of the nature of the letter.
May a debt collector contact my neighbors or family members about my debt? Not if the collector knows your name and telephone number and could have contacted you directly. When contacting your family members including minors or neighbors to find out how to locate you, the collector:
• Cannot tell others you owe a debt or discuss details of the account.
• Must identify himself, (by name, but not as a debt collector).
• Must identify the name of the collection agency only if asked.
• Can only contact the party once unless the collection agency has reason to believe the person has new information.
• Cannot leave information about a debt on a third party’s answering machine or voice mail service.
Contacts with a spouse, the parent of a minor, a guardian, co-signer, executor, or administrator are considered the same as contacts with the debtor under the FDCPA.
I am being contacted by a collector looking for my former room- mate, neighbor, or relative . Can I stop this? The FDCPA says a debt collector may contact someone other than the debtor, but only to learn the location of the debtor. Usually this contact can be made only once, unless the collector has reason to believe the person has new informa- tion. If you are a relative or roommate, a debt collector who contacts you repeatedly also violates your privacy. Excessive contact may be considered a form of harassment. You should be able to stop contact by writing to the debt collector.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 21