Is it legal for credit card companies or creditors to call a neighbor to contact people who owe them?

yes it is but if they are harrasing you, you have rights too!

yeah man, didn't you know they're runned by the mafia?...i mean government....i mean laywers...dude anything they do is "legal" they make the laws...sorry, i hope things get better

no, it's absolutely illegal

Look-- pay what you owe.

If you'd stop dogging your debts, your creditors wouldn't have to call your neighbors to find out if you've skipped town.

what? i never heard of that-id be so pi**ed!

There is not a universal answer for this. Collection laws differ by state. What is legal in one state could be illegal in the next.

Just google , or yahoo, "your state" collection laws.

Dont start threatening them until you get the facts. You could look mighty dumb if your wrong.

In Missouri, they can do everything short of threatening your well being. SO, it is possible it is legal.

check on the laws in your state. I always thought it was illegal. I worked for a collection agency in the past and we never contacted the persons neighbors or family members as we were told it is against the law.

No! Call your attorney if they do and sue their sorry a.s.s.e.s.

If you gave the creditor the neighbor's contact info as an "emergency" contact then yes.

Well, its probably a extreme tactic not widley used, but as we become more passive about not paying money we owe (or hide from the credit collectors paid to hunt you down). It sounds like they are becoming much more aggressive at using extreme tatics to get you to pay.

In fact, your comment makes me wonder. With real estate having peaked and the endless amount of sales jobs that have been eliminated, and the high debt most americans have taken on.......could bill collectors, become the next booming profession? If you dont know, people have borrowed to the max. Stashing away the cash, ready to walk if things got bad. Walk and take that cash they have to start over..........HMMMMMM

May a debt collector contact anyone else about your debt?
If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact.

For example, debt collectors may not:

* use threats of violence or harm;
* publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau);
* use obscene or profane language; or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:

* falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives;
* falsely imply that you have committed a crime;
* falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau;
* misrepresent the amount of your debt;
* indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or
* indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.

Debt collectors also may not state that:

* you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt;
* they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or
* actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action.

Debt collectors may not:

* give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau;
* send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not; or
* use a false name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not:

* collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such
a charge;
* deposit a post-dated check prematurely;
* use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams;
* take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally; or
* contact you by postcard.

no it is not your details should be held by them confidentially and you would be entitled to make a claim against the bank for revealing confidential information about you to unauthorised parties.

According to the law, only if they cannot reach by either mail or phone. If they have one way to reach you whether you respond to them or not, they cannot legally contact anyone else. For example your phone is disconnected and your mail is returned to them. However I know they do harass people by contacting neighbors and relatives all the time to embarass people. I have even heard of them getting relatives to help pay your debts for you. All highly illegal. You can sue and file an FTC complaint.

your my long lost brother, i think its ok coz id do it to u if u oue me monie

yes it is and you should notfiy the company and let them know that you are getting a attorney .

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