What is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law. We also have a Florida counterpart that's very similar to that, called the FCCPA. It protects against harassing creditors that are trying to collect debts using illegal means. There's a lot of things they can't do. They can't call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM. They can't call you at work after you tell them not to. They can't call relatives and discuss the debt with them. There's a lot of things they can't do. One of the important virtues of this law is it allows you to hire an attorney, where the attorney is paid by the other side out of the recovery because the law allows for the payment of attorney's fees. If there is a violation, it entitles you to $1000 of statutory damages, as well as any actual damages. If for instance, they were calling you at work and you lost a job. This is a very important law to try to take advantage of and to use as a guide in talking with your creditors.