It was a matter of time, I guess, before overbearing debt collectors who regularly practice their own special brand of “financial terrorism” upon consumers would jump on the “lawsuit reform” bandwagon and press legislators to repeal the protections of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Of course, the usual whining accompanies their pleas–too many “frivolous” lawsuits, etc. What’s particularly ironic about the pleas from the debt collectors is that THEY are the ones who so frequently sue consumers for false debts and regularly extort money for debts not owed using threats of false credit reporting, and also try to collect amounts they know they’re not entitled to. Yet THEY complain about “frivolous lawsuits”? What’s the old saying…”Criticize not the mote in my eye lest you recognize the log in thine own,” or some such. Point being, if any group in this society regularly files frivolous lawsuits, it’s the debt collectors, not the plaintiff’s attorneys, and debt collectors have no business accusing anyone of “frivolous lawsuits”.
Just so you know, yes, there are many debt collectors which are small outfits, but there are also many super-corporations whose primary business is debt collection. Wolpoff & Abramson, if memory serves, brags that it’s “the country’s first billion-dollar debt collection firm,” as if that’s something to be proud of. Arrow Financial is the debt collection arm of Sally Mae, the semi-public student loan giant. I could go on. Point here is, however, that the debt collectors have some very deep pockets with which to persuade legislators to take your rights away.
Please, if you know any federal or state legislators or have any occasion to write to them or attend functions with them, tell them just how important it is that consumer debtors in this country have some rights against rape and pillage at the hands of debt collectors. It’s time we take back some of our rights from the big multinational corporations and insist that they treat us like humans. Please support candidates that favor consumer rights, both state and federal.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.