Know Your Rights

California:
The state Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act require that, except under certain circumstances, collectors may not contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. They may not harass you by using threats of violence or arrest or by using obscene language. Collectors may not use false or misleading statements or call you at work if they know or have reason to know that you may not receive personal calls at work. For the most part, collectors may not tell another person, other than your attorney or spouse, about your debt. Collectors may contact another person to confirm your location or enforce a judgment. For more information about debt collection activities, you may contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or https://www.ftc.gov.

Colorado:
For information about the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, please visit the website of the Colorado Attorney General at https://coag.gov/office-sections/consumer-protection/consumer-credit-unit/collection-agency-regulation/

New York:
A translation and description of commonly-used debt collection terms is available in multiple languages on the New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs website. A link to this glossary is below. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/Glossary-of-Common-Debt-Collection-Terms.page Stuart-Lippman and Associates offers both English and Spanish speaking agents.