Creditor Harassment Attorney in Kingsport, Tennessee
If you are struggling with creditor calls that are making your life unbearable, you need to understand that you have rights. Unfortunately, creditor harassment is not an uncommon phenomenon, even though the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from harassing or abusing debtors.
I am Attorney Steven C. Frazier, and I represent people who have to deal with creditor harassment throughout Northeastern Tennessee. From my office in Kingsport, Tennessee, I protect clients from annoying and humiliating bill collector calls in Bristol, Church Hill, Johnson City, and other parts of the state. My goal is to hold creditors accountable for their unlawful conduct and help clients eliminate or settle their debts to achieve financial freedom.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act requires creditors and debt collectors to adhere to specific restrictions when trying to recover their debts. The FDCPA imposes stringent penalties for violations of the terms of the Act. While most debt collectors are aware of the limitations and choose to exercise caution when trying to collect on the debt, some engage in abusive and harassing behavior.
Under the Act, debt collectors are prohibited from engaging in the following types of harassing conduct:
Using obscene language or violence in an attempt to collect on a debt
Threatening to harm the debtor or their family
Making repeated phone calls in order to annoy or harass the debtor
Calling at an unreasonable time of day
Trying to collect more than is owed through charges, fees, or interest
Contacting a debtor at work
Disclosing a debtor’s debt to a third party without the debtor’s permission
Contrary to popular belief, a creditor calling and sending letters to a debtor is not creditor harassment unless the creditor calls at an unreasonable time of day or makes repeated phone calls with the goal of annoying or harassing the debtor. However, if you hire a creditor harassment attorney or file for bankruptcy, creditors may no longer be allowed to contact you directly.
Will Filing for Bankruptcy Stop Creditor Harassment?
Yes, filing for bankruptcy can be an effective way to stop repeated bill collector calls and other types of creditor harassment. Once you file for bankruptcy, you are protected through what is known as an “automatic stay.” A bankruptcy filing places an automatic stay on all creditor actions, including their attempts to collect on a debt, send letters, and even make phone calls.
In other words, all creditor harassment and attempts to seek payment from a debtor must stop immediately after receiving notice of the debtor’s bankruptcy filing. If a creditor willfully violates an automatic stay, the debtor can sue them.
Do I Need A Bankruptcy Lawyer?
While you technically have a right to file for bankruptcy without an attorney, seeking the assistance of an experienced bankruptcy lawyer has the following benefits:
Guidance you can trust. A bankruptcy lawyer will provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout the entire bankruptcy case. Your lawyer will handle the filing on your behalf and help you manage the process from start to finish to help you seek financial freedom.
Skillful negotiation. With a bankruptcy lawyer on your side, you can negotiate the best possible arrangement based on your specific circumstances and financial situation. As a lawyer with decades of experience practicing law, I have developed effective negotiation skills to help clients pursue favorable outcomes.
Sound legal advice. Your bankruptcy attorney will provide legal advice on how to deal with debt, rebuild your credit, and improve your financial situation overall.
No more creditor harassment. Once you hire an attorney to help you with your debt issues, you will stop dealing with creditors on your own. Creditors can no longer contact you directly. Creditors must call your attorney instead of you, which means you will be free from creditor harassment.
Creditor Harassment Attorney
Serving Kingsport, Tennessee
If you believe that a debt collector has crossed the line and engaged in creditor harassment, you need to speak with an attorney to protect your rights. As Attorney Steven C. Frazier, I have decades of experience helping debtors in Kingsport, Tennessee, and throughout Northeastern Tennessee safeguard their rights. If you are dealing with harassing creditor calls, schedule an appointment by contacting my office today.