Jeff's Blog 
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for Pennsylvania Consumers
- Jeff Suher represents Pittsburgh consumer whose credit card was stolen by Buffalo Debt Collector
- A Debt Collection Company that "May" Train and Encourage Employees to Violate the FDCPA - sued in Pennsylvania
- What to do if a Debt Collector Sues You.
- A Need to Know Debt Collection Tactic to Harass and Threaten you into paying an Old Debt
- National Action Financial Services, NAFS - Typical debt collection company and numerous consumer complaints!
- What can I do to stop debt collection calls about OLD DEBT
- Harassing Debt Collection Calls from India to the U.S.
- Debt Collection Complaints going UP; what to do if you get a telephone call in Pittsburgh. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE
- 10 Ways to Curb Sleazy Debt Collectors In Pittsburgh
- Haunted and harassed by old debts?
Fair Credit Reporting Act for Consumers Rights
- The only website to obtain all 3 credit reports for free every year
- Jeff Suher to Host Workshop about the Fair Credit Reporting Act
General
- The Tale of a Dead Man Walking....
- Credit Card Companies vs. College Student - Who is responsible for the financial future of college students?
- Does your credit card debt die with you, or can it come back to to haunt those you left behind???
- VIDEO - Outrageous Debt Collection Calls, and how a debt collector becomes "Mr. Mean"
- The Bureau of Collection Recovery Inc. - Calls a Pittsburgh Consumer a deadbeat and a liar!
- Fast Cash - Payday Loans, The Facts
- Tina's Personal Credit Story!
- Credit Card Debt, Read this article for a few tips on how to handle it.
- Debt Collectors are SOOO Sleazy, Watch This Video!
- The Vicious Cycle of Debt Collection: The Universal Default Clause, is it in your Credit Card Agreement?
News
- Debt Collector Accused of Stealing Pittsburgh Customer's Debit Card and Goes on a Shopping Spree!!!!
- Pittsburgh Study: College Students Pile on Credit Card Debt
- Consumer Complaints! What Consumers are the Globe Complaint About the Most!!
- Man sets himself on FIRE after receiving so many debt collection calls
- Indian Call Center Workers Demand Money
- UPDATE: IRS REFUSES TO STOP USING PRIVATE DEBT COLLECTORS
- Debt Collectors on a Rampage, Pittsburgh Attorney Jeff Suher Can Help
- Debt Collectors Pushing to Get Their Day In Court
- Banks vs. Consumers
- IRS Faulted for Lax Identity Theft Protection Efforts
Library
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for Pennsylvania Consumers
- 10 THINGS DEBT COLLECTORS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW!!
- The Six Taboos of Debt Collectors!
- Consumer Advocate Bud HIbbs' Worst Debt Collector List
- FTC Annual Report Summary of Debt Collection Violations
- RipOff Reports Article: National Enterprise Systems Intimidation at work
- RipOff Report Articles: National Action Financial Services, Inc. (NAFS)
- Debt Collector Accuses Pittsburgh Consumer of Committing a Crime and Threatens Jail Time
- Debt Collector Harasses Pittsburgh Consumer and Threatens Physical Harm
Do you Know What's on Your Credit Report? How to obtain a free report and file disputes...
- Fair Credit Report Act - Workshop to Help Pennsylvania Consumers Understand and Dispute Information on Their Credit Reports!
- Facts for Pittsburgh Consumers About Your Credit Report
Fair Credit Reporting Act for Consumers Rights
- Debt Reduction Defendant Settles FTC Charges
- 5 Ways to DESTROY your credit score
- How Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Affect You and Your Credit Score?
BLOG
General
- Fast-Cash Predatory Lending - what you need to know
- Prohibited Debt Collection Practices
- Debt Collector Directory
- Games Credit Card Companies Play
- One Month With The Credit Card Companies
- Debt Collection Agencies: Big Money in Bad Debt
- "Rehabilitation:" What Debt Collectors Don't Want You To Know
- JEFF SUHER TO PRESENT SEMINAR ON “MAXED OUT”
- Attend a Free Viewing of the Film MAXED OUT and Win a $250 Gift Certificate
- Tips for Consumers against Credit Card Fraud
What's New
Maxed Out shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of "preferred customer" and tells us why the poor are getting poorer and the rich getting richer. By turns hilarious and profoundly disturbing, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us!!
Prohibited Debt Collection Practices
Debt collectors often use harassing, abusive, false, and/or misleading tactics to attempt to collect on an alleged debt. While the list of prohibited practices is extensive, following are those most commonly committed.
Debt collectors may NOT contact you:
- At any unusual time or place before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- After he/she is aware that you are represented by an attorney
- At your place of employment if your employer prohibits such communications
- After written notification that you refuse to pay debt
- After written notification to cease all further communication
Debt collectors may NOT harass or abuse you by:
- Threatening or using violence or other criminal means to harm you and/or your property
- Using profane or abusive language
- Publishing a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts
- Calling you repeatedly
- Contacting you without disclosing their identity
- Contacting anyone except you, your attorney, or a credit bureau
Debt collectors may NOT make false, deceptive or misleading representations such as:
- Falsely implying affiliation with the United States or any state, including the use of any badge and/or uniform
- Misrepresenting the amount or legal status of the debt
- Leading you to believe he/she is an attorney or that the communication is from an attorney
- Leading you to believe that nonpayment will result in imprisonment, seizure or garnishment
- Threatening to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken
- Leading you to believe that you've committed a crime
- Sending a collection letter or leaving a voicemail that fails to contain the mini-Miranda warning: "THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR"
- Falsely stating documents are "legal process" when they are not
- Misrepresenting themselves as being employed by a consumer reporting agency
- Communicating false credit information, including failure to communicate to credit bureaus that a debt is disputed
Debt collectors may NOT employ unfair methods such as:
- Attempting to collect an amount not authorized by the creditor or permitted by law
- Accepting or soliciting your check postdated by more than 5 days without 3 business days written notice of intent to deposit
- Depositing or threatening to deposit your post-dated check prior to its date
- Causing any charges to be made to you, e.g., collect telephone calls, usage of cell phone minutes
- Taking or threatening to unlawfully repossess or disable your property
- Communicating with you by postcard
- Displaying any language or symbol on the envelope indicating the communication concerns debt collection
Debt collectors MUST:
- Within 5 days of initial communication, provide you with a 30-day validation notice containing:
- The amount of the debt
- The name of the original creditor to whom debt is owed
- A statement that, unless you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion of it within 30 days after receipt of the notice, the debt will be assumed to be valid
- A statement that, if you notify the debt collector in writing within the 30-day period that the debt or any portion is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of the judgment against you and a copy will be mailed to you
- A statement that the debt collector will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor (if different from the current creditor) upon your request within the 30-day period
- A statement that the communication is from a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and that any information will be used for that purpose
- Cease collection efforts until the debt is validated
What you should do if you're contacted by a debt collector:
- Keep all letters, envelopes and notices from collection agencies.
- Save voice mails and phone messages.
- When speaking with a debt collector, keep notes of your conversation, including the date and time of the call.
- Contact us so that we can help you recover damages.
We can help. For a FREE evaluation to determine if you have a case, click on the quick contact link below or you can call us toll-free. Send us (by email, fax or US mail) letters you've received from collection agencies or lawyers. If you do have a case and we represent you, our services will cost you nothing unless you recover damages. We don't get paid until we win.
Jeffrey L. Suher, PC
4328 Old William Penn Highway, Suite 2J
Monroeville, PA 15146
Phone: (412) 374-9005
Fax: (412) 374-0799
Videos
General:
FAQs
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for Pennsylvania Consumers
- What debts are covered?
- Who is a debt collector?
- How may a debt collector contact me?
- Can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
- What if I'm represented by an attorney?
Fair Credit Reporting Act for Consumers Rights
- What happens if I dispute the debt?
- Can a debt collector take me to Court?
- How long does a delinquent debt stay on your credit report?