It’s Business, And It’s Personal

What is creditor harassment and how can consumers stop it?

On Behalf of | Nov 5, 2021 | Consumer Protection |

A creditor is an individual or entity that provides financing to another party. The creditor may allow the recipient of the loan to take some time before beginning its repayment. However, under the terms of standard loan agreements, a creditor will eventually be repaid in full, and often with interest.

When a North Carolina resident takes out a loan, they may begin to receive communications from their lender about their repayment. Some communications may be permissible, while others may not. Communications that constitute harassment may be wrongful under the law and individuals have some options for stopping it from affecting them.

Examples of creditor harassment

Creditor harassment can look different in different situations. Sometimes it looks like constant, repetitive communications that are intended to annoy the recipients. Other times it looks like threats or includes deceptive information that is untruthful or intentionally obscure.

Often, creditor harassment happens at inopportune times, such as when a person is at work or late in the evening. A caller may use inappropriate or abusive language in their efforts to compel payment of a loan by another party. Creditor harassment can be demoralizing and intimidating to those who endure it.

Addressing creditor harassment

When creditor harassment happens, individuals can document when and from whom the wrongful communications are received. They can speak with attorneys who represent victims of creditor harassment to learn more about their rights. Those rights can include but are not limited to asking creditors to stop contacting affected parties and involving the support of their attorneys.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other laws ensure that individuals are not subjected to creditor harassment. Men and women should not be berated, threatened, or otherwise harmed because of their credit statuses. Options are available to those who wish to end creditor harassment in their lives.