Asked over 1 year ago - North Hollywood, CA
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I would like to understand an answer(s) to a question:
1. According to Title VIII, the debt collector can communicate with the following person(s) regarding the debt in question. More than one answer may apply:
a. the joint cardholder; the babysitter; the debtor's spouse; the debtor's legal counsel; debtor's parent; debtor's siblings or a neighbor of the debtor.
The debt collector may contact anyone to obtain "location information." They cannot tell that caller that they are collecting a debt, only that they need to speak with the debtor about an "important matter", a "business matter" or similar.
They can dun the cardholder and the joint cardholder, but not someone who is only an "authorized user" and not liable on the account. They can dun the spouse (the law is not clear whether this is only the current spouse). They can communicate with anyone authorized by the debtor, such as his/her attorney. They cannot dun a parent of an adult debtor. They cannot dun a neighbor, a babysitter or other relatives. This applies only to "consumer debts", not business debts.
Each violation, if proven, can give rise to between $100 and $1,000 in "statutory damages" under the FDCPA. Also, they cannot call at work if they are told that you are not allowed to receive debt collection calls at work. And, they cannot call after you send them a letter asking them not to call.
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