• New York protects residents from harassment from bill collectors.wallet and credit cards image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com
  
  Economic conditions nationwide are subjecting New York residents to creditors who use deceptive or illegal collection tactics. The New York Consumer Protection Board reports that the top consumer complaint is about debt collection. The organization has been created new laws to help the consumer. New York consumers are protected by state and federal laws outlawing unscrupulous practices from debt collectors who use harassment, threats and improper contact while attempting to collect money that is owed to them. The New York State Attorney General can prosecute creditors who violate the state law. Consumers can also file a civil suit against creditors using the New York law.
  
  

Misrepresentation

• A creditor cannot pretend to be an official representative of a law enforcement or government agency. The bill collector cannot use any method of communication that makes it appear that they are an attorney or a member of the legal system.
  
  

Threaten Reputation

• Creditors cannot threaten to release information impugning a debtor's reputation concerning credit-worthiness knowing the information is false or the debt could be disputed.
  
  

Contact Employer

• A creditor cannot threaten to inform a debtor's employer that there may be an outstanding debt owed before obtaining a final judgment against the debtor. The creditor may contact the employer to arrange for payments on the bills if the employee agrees to that contact.
  
  

Harassment

• The creditor cannot harass the debtor, his family or household member at unusual hours or in a manner that a reasonable person would consider excess in frequency.