Welcome to Heaney Law Firm, LLC, a Minnesota consumer rights law firm dedicated to protecting and fighting for the rights of consumers. Consumer rights lawyer, Mark Heaney, can help you fight back against abusive debt collectors using unethical and illegal debt collection practices and make them pay you damages. Call (952) 933-9655 for a FREE case evaluation.
Stop Debt Collector Harassment and Abuse! Make Them Pay You!
Are you being harassed or abused by bill collectors? Are they calling you names, swearing or threatening you? Are debt collectors demanding payment on bills you have already paid or do not owe? Have debt collectors contacted your family, friends, in-laws or employer? If so, you may have a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) case.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal consumer rights law that protects consumers from the unethical and illegal collection of consumer debt. Consumer debt includes credit cards, student loans, medical bills, dishonored checks and any debt that was incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
The law provides that debt collection agencies that violate the law are liable for actual damages including emotional distress, up to $1000 for statutory violations and payment of attorney’s fees and costs.
You do not have to sit back and take the abuse. The FDCPA is designed to protect you. When debt collection agencies abuse, harass or mislead consumers in the debt collection process they BREAK THE LAW! You can make them stop and pay you!
Have You Been Abused, Harassed or Misled by a Bill Collector?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits collection agencies from using illegal and unethical debt collection techniques. Using these prohibited methods are violations of federal law and can form the basis for a FDCPA lawsuit, where consumers can demand compensation. Here are some of the collection practices prohibited by the FDCPA:
- A debt collector may not harass, oppress, or abuse you.
- A bill collector may not use any unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt.
- A debt collector may not use a false, deceptive, or misleading representation to collect a debt.
- A collection agency may not contact your family, in-laws, neighbors or friends for any reason other than obtaining your location information. They many not discuss the debt with third parties.
- A bill collector may not contact you at work when they know it is prohibited or make threats to notify your employer or other parties that you owe the debt.
- A debt collection agency may not use threats, insults or abusive language.
- A bill collector may not make calls to you at home at late hours or leave repeated, abusive phone messages.
- A debt collector may not threaten you with arrest, lawsuits, garnishment or liens.
This is only a partial list of the debt collection practices that are prohibited. You should contact consumer rights lawyer, Mark Heaney, for a Free Case Evaluation to determine if you have a FDCPA case.
Sue for Damages – Even If You Owe the Debt!
The FDCPA protects you regardless of whether or not you owe the debt. The fact that you owe money or have unpaid bills does not permit a debt collection agency to treat you unethically and unfairly. You have the right to be treated with Dignity and Respect!
No Legal Fees – Unless You Recover
You will pay no legal fees or costs of litigation, unless we recover damages for you. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act contains a fee shifting provision, which means that in a successful case the debt collection agency can be ordered to pay your attorney’s fees and costs. That’s in addition to statutory and actual damages, including emotional distress. In some cases, we can eliminate or negotiate a lower amount of the original debt and eliminate untruthful statements from your credit report.
Call consumer rights lawyer, Mark Heaney, at (952) 933-9655 for FREE case evaluation or fill out the FREE online case evaluation form and an attorney will contact you.