What can I do if I am being threatened by a debt collection agency?

If you are being threatened by a debt collection agency in New York, it is important to know your legal rights. Under New York’s Collection Defense Law, creditors and debt collectors must abide by certain rules when collecting a debt. For example, they must treat you with respect and may not use language that is threatening, intimidating, or obscene. It is also illegal for debt collectors to garnish your wages or other assets without a court order, as well as to make repeated phone calls, send threatening letters, or contact people you know in order to discuss the debt. If a debt collector is engaging in any of these behaviors, you can take legal action against them. One way to do this is to file a complaint with the New York State Department of Financial Services, which oversees debt collection practices. You can also seek legal counsel from a lawyer or a consumer rights organization. A lawyer can help you determine whether a debt collector’s actions were within the bounds of the law, and may be able to help you negotiate a payment option with the debt collection agency. Finally, it is important to keep records of all interactions with the debt collection agency. This will help you keep track of what has been said and provide valuable evidence if you decide to take legal action.

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