Debt Collectors - harassing family?

Unless that family member cosigned for the debt, no they cannot. The next time the debt collector calls the family member, tell the caller that the person who owes the debt does not live here and they are to remove this number from their computer system. Tell the caller that any further calls to this number will result in a complaint being filed with the (whatever state you live in) Attorney General's office along with a charge of harassment.

Can Debt Collectors Call Relatives

My brother worked as a debt-collector while in college.

Here are a few things most people don't realize. You can tell them not to call you at your home, or your work, or at all, period! If they are harassing you or the person who owes the debt, you can report them and should report them.

Start with asking for their manager, after you have their call back number (so they don't just hang up on you)....Try the management first, if that doesn't work there is a very simple complaint you can file on-line with the Better Business Bureau.

Collectors have a lot of rules they are supposed to follow, people are so intimidated by the calls....and then unaware of what a debt-collector is actually allowed to do, they generally fall for some really bad behaviors from these individuals.

My brother did very well at the job, made a percentage of whatever he collected, and he did so (admittedly by doing those things that intimidate people...and that they don't realize debt-collectors are not allowed to do or say)

Hope this helps.

Typtically collectors are allowed to contact family members IF AND ONLY IF there are no good contact numbers for the person that is in debt with them. If the family member states they have no good phone numbers and have no idea where the debtor is, then the agency must remove the number. If the family member was listed as a reference on the credit application, then is a free for all.

This may be on a state-to-state basis, so you may want to check with your states laws on it.

During the new laws that were made in 2005 by the banking and credit card industry headed by MBNA Bank and Citigroup the rules were changed to let an almost free hand on the part of the debt collectors to harass people. The only thing is that they cannot call before 8:00am or after 9:00pm.

In the summer of 2005 the banking and credit card industry lobbyists had made their pitch to congress and they changed the bankruptcy laws and made it almost impossible for the individual person to claim bankruptcy. Louis Freeh who used to be the head of the FBI in the 1990's is now CEO of MBNA Bank and was in the congressional hearings on Capitol Hill in 2005 to lobby for changes in the debt collecting and bankruptcy laws. He also was the biggest contributor to George Bush's re-election campaign of 2004. So George rewarded him with signing the bill to change the bankruptcy laws and the debt collection laws.

There is a documentary now showing on Cable TV's Showtime Station called Maxed Out. You should try and catch it.

It is also on google videos and can be seen for free on google videos on the internet. It is 86 minutes long but it will show you how the banks have held us hoostage to our mortgages and our debts with credit cards and it even shows the banks that thye have hired freelance debt collectors and the credit card companies will eep harassing you and harrassing you until you die as is said in the documentary since it is very hard to declare bankruptcy anymore and to start out with a clean slate. Most times now even if you get to declare bankruptcy youm must still pay back the debt and a payment schedule will be made for you.

Anyway that is getting off the track. I do suggest that you look up this video documetnary and watch it. When you do the google search there will be several choices which will come up choose the one that is 86 minutes long. Many will just say 3 or 4 minutes long. You want the one that ways 86 minutes long.

The following link shoud get you right to the screen which will play the documentary called Maxed Out. I think it will be worth your while to take the time to watch this documentary very carefully. You will learn many things that you might not have known. It was a real eye-opener for me.

Here is the link:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Maxed+Out&si...

More than likely whoever owes the debt has put down that family member as a contact and that is why they are calling them. Tell the collector you will be contacting the police if the calls don't stop. Call your phone company and have the number blocked.

it is all relative to the state you live in. I know in Tx third party debt collectors have to abide by certain rules and laws or are subject to legal action. They can't threaten legal action, or personal property or reputation. If you tell them they can't contact you again by phone, they can't legally do so, or they are not supposed to, but they probably will.

That's just what I know from tx because I used to work at a collection agency called GC services. I'm pretty sure the no contact by phone is nation wide, but to be safe you should research it for your state.

Get an address for the debt collector and send them a letter telling them that all contact should be done by mail. If necessary, have an attorney send the letter on your behalf.

It is illegal for the debt collectors to be harassing you. If possible, get their number and other information if possible, and report them. You do have rights.

They aren't supposed to. But who's going to stop them?