Is it illegal for a debt collector to call me repeatedly?
Yes, it is illegal for a debt collector to call you repeatedly in Washington. Debt collection law in Washington, known as the Collection Agencies Act, is put into place to protect consumers from harassment and overreaching behavior by debt collectors. Specifically, the law prohibits debt collectors from calling repeatedly, or continuously, with the intent to annoy or harass you. If a collection agency is calling you multiple times a day to collect a debt, that is a violation of the law. Additionally, debt collectors cannot call you at times or places that are known to be inconvenient for you, such as before 8am or after 9pm, at your place of work, or with excessive calls, such as more than three in a row. If you feel like you are being harassed by a debt collector, the first step is to keep detailed records of the calls. That will help you prove that the debt collector has violated the law. Then, you can file a complaint with the Washington Attorney General’s office. The complaint will be investigated and the debt collector will be given a chance to explain their actions. If the debt collector is found to be in violation, they may be subject to fines or other penalties.
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