Is it illegal to collect a debt for which I am not responsible?
In Texas, it is illegal to collect a debt for which you are not responsible. This type of collection attempt is known as Collection Defense Law. According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, collectors must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including the prohibition against any attempt to collect a debt for which you are not responsible. If you are being unfairly pursued by a collector for a debt that you are not responsible for, the Texas Attorney General’s Office recommends that you contact the collector in writing to dispute the debt. Make sure to keep a copy of any correspondence you have with the creditor. If the collector continues to pursue the debt, you may be able to bring a claim of false collection against the collection agency with the help of a consumer protection attorney. The best way to determine if this is a viable option is to speak to an attorney with experience in consumer protection law. In sum, attempting to collect a debt for which you are not responsible is illegal in Texas under the Collection Defense Law. If you are being pursued for a debt that you are not responsible for, you should take steps to dispute the debt and seek legal recourse if the debt collector continues their attempts to collect.
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