Will a debt collector ever inform me of my rights?

Yes, debt collectors must inform you of your rights if they contact you. Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors must tell you that they are a debt collector, inform you of the amount of money you owe, and explain which party they are collecting from and who the original creditor was. Additionally, the collector must provide to you information about the rights you have to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In the state of Washington, debt collectors are also required to follow similar laws and regulations as outlined by the FDCPA. Therefore, the debt collector must notify you of your rights as a consumer and provide you with a written notice of their name, address, and telephone number. This notice must be given to you when the debt collector first contacts you and must be in a language that you understand. Furthermore, the debt collector cannot use abusive, deceptive, or unfair practices while collecting a debt. If they are found to be in violation of any of these practices, the Washington state Office of the Attorney General can take legal action on your behalf. If you are contacted by a debt collector, make sure you read any written documents they give you and ask questions about your rights. Doing so will help ensure that the debt collector is acting ethically and legally.

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Will a debt collector ever inform me of my rights?

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