If you are behind on your mortgage or other bills, you may cringe every time the phone rings. While you can probably ignore excessive calls to your personal smartphone, a debt collector may try to contact you at work. Not only do these calls interrupt your job duties, but they may also make you look bad.
It can be difficult to stop debt collection calls, including those that happen during work hours. Still, you are not powerless. As a consumer, you have some options for stopping debt collection calls when you are at your place of employment.
Push back
If your smartphone or office phone rings during normal work hours, you can verbally push back. Specifically, you can tell the debt collector it is inconvenient for you to answer calls at work. Using the word “inconvenient” is often important, as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents debt collectors from calling at inconvenient times.
Send a letter
Even if you tell debt collectors to stop calling you, the calls may continue. After all, debt collectors know how to be tenacious. If tenacity turns to harassment, you may want to consider sending a cease and desist letter to the debt collector. This letter gives you a record of your objection to the calls. This record may become valuable if you have to take additional action.
File a complaint
You eventually may need to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General’s office. Authorities there may intervene on your behalf. Ultimately, while it may take some effort to end harassing phone calls at work, protecting your professional reputation is worth it.
Reach out for Representation
The Law Office of Bradley D. Schnur, Esq. P.C. serving Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), Queens and Westchester has a proven track record of successful client service. Let us use our experience to help you provide the strong defense you need with any issues you may be facing with debt collectors.