Mail from a legal firm

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2004
Mail from a legal firm
2
Thu, 11-18-2004 - 12:37pm

I am a newbie here and would really like to see if anyone could give me some advice. I have fallen behind on a few of my bills (credit card , computer payment, medical..) I get harrassing phone calls at work from collectors and just today a legal firm sent a letter to the personel dept wanting to know if I was still employed? Does anyone know why they would send this?

~Jackie~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 11-18-2004 - 1:23pm
Have you been formally sued by the law firm? If so, they are probably trying to get information to eventually garnish your wages. They can only garnish your wages if they have a judgment. There is no requirement that your company respond to such a letter. Just because someone asks for information, doesn't mean that you have to give it to them. You should write the collector/law firm a "cease and desist" letter requesting that all contact with you be at your home address.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Thu, 11-18-2004 - 7:41pm

That's right.

Furthermore, any third-party collector or firm is legally bound by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. . See www.ftc.gov for more info.

You have NUMEROUS rights under this Federal law, so read it and use it to protect yourself!

For example, if this law firm or collection agency called your employer, they are NOT allowed to tell your employer that they are a law firm or that they are trying to collect a debt.

It may be that you have this collector/firm over a barrel, and NOT the other way around. Try to find out who they are, what they want, & tell them not to contact you at work.

Good luck with this! Please read the FDCPA for more info on your rights!

Melanie