Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Georgia
Debt collection: asking neighbors to deliver message
Is it permissable under the Fair Debt Collection Act for collection agencies to contact 3rd parties (such as neighbors) and ask them to relay phone messages? I thought the law only allows 3rd party contact for updating location information, even if no account or debt information is divulged during the 3rd party contact. It is embarrassing to have ones neighbors bringing these types of messages over. Thank you.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Debt collection: asking neighbors to deliver message
You are correct in your statement, unless you gave the debt collectors permission to contact the neighbors. If you did not, then it is probably a violation; there is a statute of limitations on the violation though. I would have to know more information to be of further assistance to you.