How can I protect myself from illegal collection practices?

If you are a resident of Washington, it is important to know how to protect yourself from illegal collection practices. The Washington Collection Defense Law, RCW 19.16, outlines particular practices that are considered illegal and are prohibited, such as harassing debtors, misrepresenting a debt, using profane or abusive language, calling debtors at unreasonable times, and other tactics. The first step to protecting yourself from illegal collection practices is to be aware of your rights. Under the Washington Collection Defense Law, debtors can request a validation of a debt and can request that a debt collector avoid certain contact methods. Debtors can also dispute a debt in writing, and the debt collector must notify the debtor of the results of its investigation. Additionally, debtors can file a complaint with the Washington state Attorney General’s office if they think a debt collector has violated the Washington Collection Defense Law. Debtors can also file a complaint about a debt collector with the Federal Trade Commission or with a consumer protection agency in their county. Finally, it is important to keep records of communications with a debt collector, as well as any payments made. Keeping a record of everything can be helpful in case you need to dispute a debt or take legal action against a debt collector. By understanding your rights and taking the necessary steps to protect yourself, you can stop illegal collection practices from occurring.

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How can I protect myself from illegal collection practices?

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