How to report a debt collector who continues to pursue a debtor after they filed for bankruptcy?

St. Claire County, FL—Once an individual files for bankruptcy in Alabama, debt collectors are generally required to cease all contact with the debtor once they are notified of the bankruptcy filing. If a debt collector continues with their attempts to get in contact with an individual who has just filed for bankruptcy, they can either speak with their St. Claire County, AL bankruptcy lawyer regarding the matter and/or report the debt collector.

Reporting a Debt Collector for Illegal Behavior

If an individual is looking to report a debt collector after they have filed for bankruptcy, they can do so with any of the following agencies:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government agency that allows individuals to report “fraud, scams, and bad business practices.”

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is where a debtor can go to file a report if they are experiencing an issue with a financial product or service.

The debtor’s state attorney general.

A debtor in Alabama can learn more about submitting a consumer complaint with their state attorney general’s office by clicking here.

When a Debt Collector Violates a Debtor’s Rights

In the event a debt collector violates an individual’s rights, they do have the right to sue the agency in a state or federal court, according to the FTC. Debtors are restricted to getting their lawsuit filed within one year from the date the debt collector violated the law. This time restriction is referred to as the statute of limitations.

Individuals who sue a debt collector may be entitled to damages if they “lost wages or [accrued] medical bills because of the things the debt collector did.” In the event an individual cannot prove that they are entitled to recover damages from the debt collector, the court could still award them up to $1,000 as well as reimburse them for legal fees.

Individuals who are still being contacted by creditors even after they filed for bankruptcy should contact a St. Claire County, AL bankruptcy attorney for legal advice and help. The lawyers at Hill, Gossett, Kemp & Hufford, P.C. have a great deal of experience with handling bankruptcy-related matters and can be reached at any of their office locations listed down below.

Disclaimer: No representation is made that quality of legal services provided is greater than the quality of legal services provided by other attorneys.

Hill, Gossett, Kemp & Hufford, P.C. can be reached at:

Moody Office

2603 Moody Parkway, Suite 200

Moody, Alabama 35004

Phone: (205) 640-2000

Website: www.hwhlawgroup.com

Leeds Office

7900 Parkway Drive

Leeds, AL 35094

Phone: (205) 699-5500

Springville Office

6441 U.S. Highway 11