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Printer friendly versionFrequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is Mark Silverthorn helping consumers after working for collection agencies for 12 years?
Q. Does Mark Silverthorn have any creditors or collection agencies as clients?
Q. How can Mark Silverthorn help stop collection calls?
Q. To whom may a debt collector disclose the existence of a consumer’s account?
Q. When is a debt collector permitted to speak to someone other than my spouse or me?
Q. When can a debt collector leave a phone message requesting a return call?
Q. What can I do if I want to fight back and make things unpleasant for a debt collector?
Q. What is the distinction between secured and unsecured debt?
Q. For which type of debt can Mark Silverthorn provide the most assistance?
Q. What is a judgment and what is its importance?
Q. Why might my financial situation not be as bad as it appears?
Q.When can a debt collector leave a phone message requesting a return call?
A.Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a debt collector is permitted to leave a telephone message requesting a return call, but he is permitted to leave only his name and telephone number.
When leaving a phone message requesting a return call, a debt collector is not permitted to disclose the existence of a debt. Disclosure of the existence of a debt to anyone other than the consumer or the consumer’s spouse constitutes third party disclosure, and is a violation of the FDCPA.
A third party disclosure may also occur if a debt collector leaves a voicemail message at the consumer’s workplace, where someone other than the consumer or the consumer’s spouse could potentially listen to this message Any debt collector who leaves a voicemail message disclosing the existence of a debt may be inviting a lawsuit for third party disclosure under the FDCPA.
In some circumstances, a debt collector might repeatedly call the same person and leave messages. This could be construed as harassment, and the FDCPA prohibits a debt collector from engaging in any conduct that constitutes harassment or abuse of any person. Therefore, if a debt collector makes repeated phone calls to an individual, regardless of who the individual is, the debt collector has violated the FDCPA.