The Fair Debt Collection Practice Act requires debt collectors to engage in the practice ethically and prohibits practices which have been deemed to be unfair or unconscionable.

It is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act for a debt collector to lie to you or attempt to collect more money than you owe.

After a debt collector contacts you, they are required to send a letter within five days of the communication which sets forth the amount of the debt and the name of the creditor.

A debt collector must sue you in the county where you reside, unless the debt involves real property or you signed an agreement in another county.

There is an attorney fee provision in the Act and I can be compensated by the debt collector if a violation has in fact occurred.

If you feel like you have been harassed or treated unfairly or harshly by a debt collector, there is a good chance that the Act has been violated.

Do not sit on your rights because there is a one-year statute of limitations. You must see an attorney as soon as possible after the violation occurred because the action must be filed within one year of the date of the violation.