Stop Creditor Harassment Now! Call Our Bellingham Attorneys

Constant calls at all hours of the day and night at work and home; bullying, name-calling, and attacking your character; threats of legal action; exposing your debt publicly––if any of this sounds familiar, you are experiencing creditor harassment, which is illegal.

Debt collectors are not allowed to break the law or violate your rights. When they cross that line, it's time to call a legal professional. This is where our Bellingham creditor defense attorneys come in. Count on us to stop the harassment immediately––no more calls, no more threats, and no more bullying.

Not only will we stop all creditor harassment, but we will also help you find a way out of your debt. The process will involve exploring debt relief options, including settlements, repayment plans, and, in the right cases, bankruptcy. Further, if we find your creditors have violated the law, our Bellingham legal team will pursue legal action against them.

You don't have to deal with illegal creditor harassment any longer. Call our Bellingham attorneys now for a free consultation and stop creditor harassment.

In Washington, creditor harassment is when debt collectors or creditors use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to try to collect a debt. Creditors must treat debtors fairly and follow certain guidelines outlined in the Washington Collection Agency Act. If they violate these rules, you have a right to protect yourself.

Under the law, creditors are legally allowed to:

• Contact you during reasonable hours between 8 am and 9 pm.
• Call you at your home, workplace, or other contact points.
• Seek payment through reasonable means, such as letters or phone calls.
• Report your debt to credit reporting agencies.
• Take legal action to collect a debt.

However, Washington state considers it illegal if creditors do any of the following:

• Call you repeatedly or at unreasonable times, like late at night or early in the morning.
• Threaten violence or harm.
• Use obscene or profane language.
• Pretend to be attorneys or government officials.
• Discuss your debt with third parties like family or friends.
• Harass, oppress, or abuse you in any manner.
• Attempt to collect debts after you've requested they stop contact in writing.

If a creditor does any of these things, they are violating Washington law, and you must speak to an attorney immediately. Contact our Bellingham attorneys to stop creditor harassment today.

Federal law also protects the rights of Washingtonians. Let’s take a look at the rules for debt collection under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA):

• No Harassment Or Abuse: Debt collectors cannot use threats of violence, profane language, or engage in abusive conduct, including:
  • Using obscene or profane language
  • Threatening violence or harm
  • Making repeated phone calls to annoy or harass you
• No False Or Misleading Representations: Creditors cannot use deceptive means to collect a debt from you, which include misrepresenting the nature of the debt or your legal rights. This also means they are prohibited from misrepresenting the amount or legal status of the debt and cannot claim to be attorneys or government officials when they are not.
• Limited Hours Of Contact: Debt collectors can legally contact you between the reasonable hours of 8 am and 9 pm. It is considered harassment if they contact you outside these hours, except if you allow them to.
• No Contact After A Request To Cease Communication: If you request in writing a debt collector cease all communication, they must stop contacting you, except to inform you of specific actions like a lawsuit. Further, when you tell a debt collector to stop calling you at work, they must honor that request.
• No Contact With Third Parties: Debt collectors cannot disclose your debt to third parties, meaning they are not allowed to talk to family, friends, or employers about your debt. They can only talk to your Bellingham attorney.
• Right To Dispute The Debt: Within five days of initial contact, a debt collector must send you a notice stating the amount of the debt, the creditor's name, and your rights to dispute the debt. If you dispute the debt within 30 days in writing, the collector must stop all collection efforts until they prove that the debt is valid.
• No Unfair Practices: Debt collectors cannot engage in practices that are considered unfair, such as:
  • Charging unauthorized fees to your debt
  • Threatening illegitimate legal action
  • Attempting to collect a debt they do not have the legal right to collect

Both Washington state and federal laws protect you against creditor harassment. So what do you do when a creditor is violating the law and harassing you? You call our skilled attorneys in Bellingham, who will take immediate action.

When debt collectors are harassing you, our Bellingham legal team has your back. Here's what to do to stop the abusive behavior right away:

• Step 1: Contact Our Bellingham Legal Team
  • Harassment by debt collectors can be distressing, but there’s a way out. A skilled Bellingham attorney can help you understand your options and protect you from further harassment.
• Step 2: Document All Incidents Of Creditor Harassment
  • Keep a detailed record of all interactions with the debt collector. Write down the date, time, and content of any phone calls, letters, and other communications. Anytime the debt collector does anything that feels like harassment, make a special note. Your attorney will review your notes and help you determine what is and is not creditor harassment.
• Step 3: Ask for Written Debt Verification
  • Under the FDCPA, you can request written confirmation that a debt collector has the legal right to collect the debt. Collectors are required to provide details such as the amount owed and the name of the original creditor. Failure to provide this information means they must stop pursuing the debt.
• Step 4: Your Attorneys Sends A Cease And Desist Letter
  • Next, your attorney will send a written cease-and-desist letter. Once creditors receive this letter, they are legally required to stop all communication except to inform you of any legal action they may take, such as a lawsuit.
• Step 5: You Attorney Will Take Legal Action
  • If the debt collector still harasses you after you've taken these steps, you may be entitled to damages. The FDCPA allows consumers to seek compensation for actual damages. The Whatcom County Courts can also award you up to $1,000 in statutory damages if a collector violates the law. In some cases, you may also recover attorney fees.

Our experienced Bellingham creditor harassment attorneys are here to help you. Count on us to stop the harassment and help you get control of your debt.

Creditors know the laws, too. So many blur the line between legal and illegal actions, making it difficult to know if you're a victim of harassment or simply dealing with a persistent debt collector. However, there are specific signs that can help you identify whether the debt collector has violated your rights. We've seen some examples in our over 30 years of practicing bankruptcy law in Bellingham and Washington state, which include:

• A repossession company breaks into your gated driveway to repossess your vehicle without prior notice or a legal order.
• A collections company repeatedly calls your workplace and threatens to tell your employer about your debt.
• A debt collector knocks on your neighbor's door and asks personal questions about your financial situation or tries to get information about where you live.
• A collection agency sends you a letter claiming you will be arrested or face jail time over an unpaid debt, which is not a real legal consequence.
• A creditor sends a letter disguised as an official court document to scare you into paying a debt you don't owe.
• A collection agent follows you home from a public place and shows up at your door unannounced, demanding payment.

If you are experiencing scenarios like this, then you are probably a victim of creditor harassment. In that case, you must contact our Bellingham attorneys right away.

Bellingham is a great place to live and work, offering a perfect balance of natural beauty and vibrant city life. We love spending the weekends hiking the scenic Chuckanut Mountains and walking along the waterfront at Boulevard Park. Whether we're grabbing a fresh brew at any of our tasty local coffee shops, exploring the local art scene at the Whatcom Museum, or catching a show at the Mount Baker Theatre, we always find something to enjoy in the city.

We are proud to be part of the tight-knit community of Bellingham, which is why we will not tolerate creditors harassing our neighbors. If creditors are harassing you, call us now. We'll address the situation immediately and explore your options for legal debt relief. Don't let aggressive creditors bully and harass you. Our Bellingham debt relief law firm has your back!