It is the debt collector’s duty to make you pay your outstanding debts. One of the ways they try to do this is by contacting you to discuss your debts and arrange for payment. Debt collectors use a variety of tactics to obtain valid phone numbers for you, and one of those numbers could be your work number. Unfortunately, being contacted by a debt collector at work is uncomfortable, and if your employer does not approve, it could jeopardize your job.
Debt collectors can contact you at work, but there are rules
Debt collectors are allowed to contact you at work, but only under very specific circumstances. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act governs what third-party debt collectors can and cannot do when collecting debts. It states that debt collectors are not permitted to call your workplace if they know or should know that your employer does not approve of them contacting you at your job. Depending on your profession (if the debt collector knows your job), the collector can safely assume that you are not allowed to take calls at work.
How to stop debt collectors from calling you at work
Giving the debt collector the benefit of the doubt may be generous, but contacting them at work can be an unintended mistake. There may be a chance that the debt collector does not realize that the number they called is your work number. They may not be aware of your profession, so they cannot know whether your employer allows personal calls during work hours.
You can stop debt collectors from calling you at work with relative ease. Inform the debt collector that your employer does not wish for you to be contacted at your job or that you are not allowed to receive personal calls at work. Once the debt collector is aware of either of these circumstances, they are legally bound to stop contacting you at work.
Document the date and time you requested the debt collector to stop calling your job. Sending a follow-up message can be additional evidence proving that you requested the debt collector to cease calling your job. If you need to take legal action against the collector, this evidence will help support your case.
Paying the debt will stop collectors from contacting you at work and home. Before you pay the debt, send a verification letter requesting that the collector provide evidence that the debt is yours and that you are legally obligated to pay it. If you are satisfied that the debt is valid, pay it off to eliminate it permanently. Not only will the collection calls stop, but you can also work on repairing any credit damage you incurred because of having an unpaid collection account on your credit report.
What to do if the debt collector continues to call?
Simply informing the debt collector that you cannot take calls at work will only stop those calls at work. The collector may continue to call you at other numbers they have on file, such as your home or mobile phone, unless you send a cease and desist letter requesting that the debt collector stop contacting you.
If the debt collector continues to call you at work, even after you told them that you cannot take those calls, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With enough complaints against a specific collector, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may impose a fine against the collector and require them to cease violating the law. You may also have grounds to sue the debt collector for actual damages and punitive damages.
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Sources:
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts presented in our articles. Read our editing process to learn more about how we verify facts and maintain the accuracy, reliability, and quality of our content.
Federal Trade Commission. “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-stop-debt-collectors-from-calling-you-at-work-960576
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