Recent Feedback
Is it ok for a debtor to ask about you'r account in the ears of other people. Privacy issue. I do not believe that is even close to legal in ME. I just got the funds to pay the bill, but the embarrasment in front of customers is unbelievable! I have a boy with medical issues that wiped our funds.
Optional Information: State/Country relating to question: Maine Already Tried: I paid as much as I could. $800 last month. I am not rich by any stretch, just doing the best I can. I responded to a message on our answer machine with account #s and any possible way to get back to me, but they never did...Nichole at Carquest head office. The local manager keeps bringing it up every time I walk through the door. It's getting old, and it used to be illegal in Maine to discuss anything financial in front of 3rd parties. Did something change?
Hello, Im researching your anser now.
Can you tell me a little more about the situation? Was it on the phone? In the store?
It was a message left on my answering machine. I was busy with a customer and didn't answer the phone since I didn't recognize the number. They said how much I owed and to who. Of course the customer heard everything since we were a foot from the machine. I went in the local store today to pay them the balance, and they wouldn't take it and said I have to get ahold of the head office.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act offers a number of protections to consumers from improper acts of debt collectors. Two of the most important FDCPA prohibitions include:
There is no clear answer for you right now. The answering machine issue is being litigated in court as we chat.
Different courts have had different rulings.
http://www.dltlaw.com/CM/Alerts/Alerts62.asp
This link will provide you with a current break down of the cases in federal court.
Regardles, I think you still have an issue that should be addressed. If I were you, I would file a complaint.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
Here is a link to the FTC where you can file a formal complaint against the collection agency. Save the answering machine mesage if you can, it will help alot.
Thank you and I will complain to someone for sure.
Experience: Juris Doctor