Debt Collectors Using Facebook To Keep Tabs On Debtors

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Debt Collectors Using Facebook To Keep Tabs On Debtors

If you're one of the millions of people who use Facebook to stay in touch with loved ones and are behind on any of your bills – beware. Debt collectors have been using Facebook to keep tabs on debtors and embarrass them in front of their family and friends. Although the practice likely violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), they're doing it anyway.

Facebook, the popular website which allows you find out what's going on with your family and friends – and their family and friends if you'd like – is now being used by debt collectors and debt buyers, also known as zombie creditors – companies who purchase debt for pennies on the dollar and then do whatever it takes, often illegally, to collect that debt. However, they're dangerous friends to have.

The practice of using Facebook in this way likely violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) which requires debt collectors to be truthful and treat debtors with fairness, dignity and respect.

Unfortunately, many debt collection companies simply ignore those rules – and in some cases – have caused irreparable damage. In fact, a recent Florida widow claims that a debt collection company used such shocking tactics, that it caused her husband's death due to a heart attack.

http://bankruptcy-law.freeadvice.com/collections/debt-collectors-use-facebook-to-keep-tabs-on-debtors.htm

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Defriend them.

:think:

[RockaFowler]

2. Well it is De-Friend Day today

[leftstreet]

3. Does Rumsfeld have a Facebook page? Maybe we can find those pallets of cash

K&R

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Two remedies:

De-friend anyone you don't personally know and increase the "privacy"/"security" for non-friends.

[LTR]

8. +1

Read and heed!

[durkermaker]

5. I've always felt that facebook has serious privacy risks

that cant be undone once you change your mind and remove info

[MadHound]

6. I find the whole notion of Facebook both sad and laughable

So many people are willing to give away their privacy in exchange for what, something they can do with an email, phone call or letter.

[Toucano]

7. Who accepts a friend request from a zombie creditor?

This is ridiculous.

[SoCalDem]

9. Why not?

It's certainly easier than calling an answering machine:)

At SOME point, lenders & businesses that operate now with extreme-credit, will have to just write their debts off and STOP giving credit without thorough credit checks...and once given to the credit-worthy, that credit has to start being limited.

There's an old saying about not being able to get blood from a stone (or turnip), and it's also true. Harassing people who obviously cannot pay, doesn't really work anyway.

If you offer credit to people who cannot afford to repay it, YOU are at least 50% to blame when the loan is not repaid.

For too long now, they have been issuing credit cards to jobless teenagers in college, old people with extremely limited fixed incomes, and people who cannot afford to live on what they make. ALL of these people are one "incident" away from being totally insolvent. These people should not have credit cards for their emergencies. They need public agencies available to them as a safety net....or decent wages...not plastic cards issued by "loan-sharks".