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Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

FDCPA Attorney in Pennsylvania

Protecting Your Rights to Fair Debt Collection Practices in Philadelphia

The law says that debt collectors must treat you with truth, fairness, dignity and respect. Any debt collector who doesn't work within these very clear guidelines can be sued in federal court for damages under this law.

The FDCPA does not cover the original creditor (for example, the credit card company to whom you owe) but does apply to anyone who regularly collects debts on behalf their clients, including:

For the law to apply, the following elements must be present:

  • You are a consumer.
  • The debt is a consumer debt, meaning that it was incurred for personal or household purposes.
  • The collector is a debt collector. A "debt collector" is a person hired by the original creditor specifically to collect a debt. They can also be debt buyers, which are companies that purchase a debt that has been in default to try and collect it.

There are several important steps you can take to help your case, including:

  • Saving all phone messages and voice mail
  • Making notes of your conversations with the bill collector
  • And contact my office to speak with a Philadelphia debt collection defense attorney about your case

My name is Michael Forbes and I am a highly experienced debt collection defense attorney that can provide competent legal advice regarding your case.

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors are prohibited from engaging in harassing or abusive behavior when collecting a debt, including:

  • Using foul or abusive language
  • Making repeated phone calls
  • Continuing to call after receiving a written notice to stop the calls
  • Calling before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
  • Contacting someone at their job after being told not to
  • Contacting someone directly that is represented by an attorney

The FDCPA provides an attorney without any cost. If I take your case and successfully litigate, lawyer fees are paid for by the defendant debt collector, including litigation costs and expenses. You can be awarded $1,000.00 for statutory damages if you have no actual damages. When there are actual damages, which means that you have been harmed by the harassing debt collector, you will earn further compensation from the court.

If you have had to endure any abusive collection practices, you may be entitled to compensation. Call me immediately to fight back and turn the tables on these collection bullies. Not only may you be entitled to collect money from the debt collectors, they may also be required to pay for my fees.

I do not charge for a consultation for debt collection abuse and harassment cases. We can strategize and review your options. If we decide that you have a case and wish to pursue it, I will represent you in filing a lawsuit against the abusive debt collector. If we are successful, the abusive debt collector becomes responsible for my fees.

Contact Philadelphia FDCPA Lawyer Michael Forbes to find out about your rights regarding debt collection and how to stop collector abuse. If you are being harassed or abused by a debt collector from one of the following agencies, please call me right away so I can help you stop the abuse once and for all!

For a longer list of debt collectors, debt collection agencies and law firms who frequently violate FDCPA guidelines, please click here.

Collection Agencies:

  • A & S Collection Associates Inc
  • Academy Collection Service Inc
  • Account Services Collections Inc
  • Accounts Receivable Management Inc
  • Accounts Serv Co LTD
  • Accredited Collectional Aency Inc
  • Active Credit Svcs
  • Alexander Wright & Associates Inc
  • Allen Lewis & Associates Inc
  • Allen Lewis Ass Inc
  • Allen, Lewis & Associates
  • AllianceOne Rec Mgmt
  • AllianceOne Receivables Management Inc
  • Allied Interstate Credit Corp
  • Allied Interstate Inc
  • Alternative Revenue Systems Inc
  • American Coradius Inc
  • American Coradius International LLC
  • Anderson, Crenshaw & Associates LLC
  • Apex Financial Management LLC
  • Arrow Fin Serv LLC
  • Arrow Financial Services LLC
  • ARS National Services Inc
  • ARS Recovery Services LLC
  • Ascension Services LP
  • Asset Acceptance LLC
  • Asset Mgmt Out Rec
  • Associated Credit Services Inc
  • Atlantic Credit Fin
  • Audit Systems Inc
  • AvanteUSA LTD
  • Bay Area Credit Service LLC
  • Bonded Collection Corporation
  • Bronson & Migliaccio LLP
  • Burgess
  • CAC Financial Corp
  • Capital Management Services Inc
  • Capital Management Services LP
  • CBE Group Inc, The
  • Central Credit Services Inc
  • Central Portfolio Control Inc
  • Client Services Inc
  • Coast Professional Inc
  • Collectcorp Corporation
  • Collection Pros Inc
  • Collection Technology Inc
  • Collecto Inc
  • Collectors Training Institute of Illinois Inc
  • Commercial Rec Syst
  • Consumer Adjustment Company Inc
  • Credit Collection
  • Credit Control LLC
  • Credit Control Services Inc
  • Creditors Financial Group LLC
  • Creditor's Interchange Inc
  • Creditors Interchange Receivable Management LLC
  • Daniel Daniel Assoc
  • Debt Recovery Solutions Inc
  • Diversified Adjustment Service Incorporated
  • Diversified Collection Services Inc
  • Diversified Consultants Inc
  • Doctors Cred Ser Inc
  • Encore Receivable Management Inc
  • Enhanced Recovery Corporation
  • Enterprise Recovery Sytems Inc
  • ER Solutions
  • ER Solutions Inc
  • Federal Bond and Collection Service Inc
  • Financial Asset Management Systems Inc
  • First Fin Asset Mgmt
  • First Financial Asset Management Inc
  • First Performance Recovery Corporation
  • First Revenue Assurance LLC
  • Firstsource Advantage LLC
  • FMA Alliance LTD
  • Focus Receivables
  • Focus Receivables Management LLC
  • Frederick J. Hanna & Associates PC
  • GC Services Limited Partnership
  • GE Services Limited Partnership
  • General Revenue Corporation
  • Gerald E. Moore & Associates, PC, The Law Office of
  • Gerald E. Moore Asso
  • Global Payments Chk
  • I.C. System Inc
  • IDG Financial Services LLC
  • Imperial Cred Systems
  • Innovative Accounts Management Inc
  • J.C. Christensen & Associates Inc
  • Johnson & Rountree
  • Law Office of John P Frye PC
  • Leading Edge Recovery Solutions LLC
  • Lenahan
  • LHR Inc
  • LTD Financial Services LP
  • M.R.S. Associates Inc
  • Mid America Credit Corporation
  • MRS Associates Inc.
  • National Action Financial Services Inc
  • National Check Trust Inc
  • National Credit Adjusters LLC
  • National Credit Systems Inc
  • National Enterprise Systems Inc
  • National Financial Systems Inc.
  • National Recovery Incorporated
  • Nations Recovery Center Inc
  • Nationwide Credit Inc
  • Nationwide Recovery Systems LTD
  • NCA Financial Services Inc
  • NCB Management Services Inc
  • NCO Financial Sys
  • NCO Financial Systems Inc
  • Nelson Watson & Associates LLC
  • Nelson, Watson & Associates LLC
  • Nor-Don Collection Network Inc
  • Northland Group Inc
  • Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC
  • Omnium Worldwide Inc
  • OSI Collection Services
  • OSI Collection Services Inc
  • OSI Collection Svcs
  • Oxford Collection Agency Inc
  • Pentagroup Financial LLC
  • People First Recoveries LLC
  • Phillips & Burns LLC
  • Phillips & Cohen Associates LTD
  • Pinnacle Fin Grp Inc
  • Pinnacle Financial Group Incorporated
  • Pioneer Credit Recovery Inc
  • Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC
  • Professional Bureau of Collections Inc
  • Professional Credit
  • Professional Recovery Services Inc
  • Professional Recovery Systems LLC
  • Ray Klein Inc.
  • Recovery One LLC
  • Redline Recovery Services LLC
  • Regional Adjustment Bureau Inc
  • Richard J. Boudreau & Associates LLC
  • Sam Street PLLC Law Office
  • Southwest Credit Systems
  • Southwest Credit Systems LP
  • Sunrise Credit Services Inc
  • Sure Tech Recovery LLC
  • Tiburon Financial LLC
  • Transworld Systems Inc
  • TRS Recovery Services Inc
  • TSYS Total Debt Management Inc
  • United Collection Bureau Inc
  • United Collections Bureau Inc
  • United Processing Inc et al
  • Universal Fidelity LP
  • Valentine & Kebartas Inc
  • Van Ru Credit Corporation
  • Ventus Capital Services LP
  • Viking Collection Service Inc
  • Vital Recovery Services Inc
  • Wells Fargo Financial Acceptance Pennsylvania Inc
  • West Asset Management
  • West Asset Management Inc
  • West Peak Financial Inc
  • Western Control Services
  • Westmoreland Agency
  • Windham Professional Inc
  • Worldzen Collection and Recovery LLC
  • Zenith Acquisition Corporation
  • Zwicker & Associates PC
Our Values Helping You Avoid Bankruptcy
  • Proactive

    My goal is to reach as many people as possible to let them know that they do have the option to combat collection agency bullies.

  • Committed
    My firm is proud to deliver high-quality legal representation and compassionate counsel during this difficult time.
  • Knowledgeable

    Over 25 years of experience and the qualifications to fight for you and your rights.

  • Power

    We fight back and make the debt collector pay YOU money for their abusive, harassing behavior.

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    Michael P Forbes

    VOTED AS ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA'S TOP LAWYERS

    Mr. Forbes has always been driven by the desire to help others. With that in mind he began his law career representing indigent families in the Philadelphia family law system for seven years.

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