Can a debt collector contact me from their personal cell phone through a text message or does it have to contact me from the company’s number?
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Can a debt collector contact me from their personal cell phone through a text message or does it have to contact me from the company’s number?
Asked on May 23, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Alabama
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
There is no law restricting how or from which phone numbers a debt collector can call from--though if they do not call from a company number, it could possibly be a scam. If you don't have it already, get the name of the company from the caller; then look up it's number yourself, call it, and find out if they have such a person there.
Any debt collector must be able to prove the debt to force you to pay it. If there is a debt collections agency--in other words, it's not the actual person or business you owe money to, but is a third party trying to collect the debt--there are strong limitations on what it can do and how it can try to collect (and how often or where it can contact you), which you can find in the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, or FDCPA. Note that if it is a valid or legitimate debt, however, you may be sued on it.
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