What can I do if a collector is harassing me?
If you are living in Washington and a collector is harassing you, there are several steps you can take. The most important thing to do is to know your rights. Washington has the Collection Agencies Act which protects consumers from unfair debt collection practices. Under this law, collectors are not allowed to contact you outside of normal business hours (8AM – 9PM) or harass you with frequent, repeated, or continuous calls. You can also tell the collector to stop contacting you in any form by sending a written request. The collector must comply with this request and cannot contact you again, except to confirm the request has been received and to advise of any further legal remedies they may pursue. You also have the right to file a complaint against the collector with the Washington State Attorney General’s office. This office can investigate the collector and take the necessary steps to ensure that they stop harassing you. Finally, it is important to keep detailed records of your interactions with the collector, including any voicemails, emails, or letters they have sent you. This will help you prove that the collector is harassing you and could be used in court if you decide to sue the collector for damages.
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