Report shows debt collection complaints common in military

There are many people in Georgia who bravely serve the United States in the military. Some have put their lives on the line to defend our country, and others have volunteered to put themselves through stressful situations for the betterment of the service. Although these individuals deserve to be upheld for their contributions to our country, some people have no problem trying to take advantage of them.

Debt collectors, it seems, have a penchant for harassing the military community. After the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau began allowing people to submit complaints regarding debt collection, thousands of people with military ties have spoken up.

Of the 3,800 complaints that the CFPB received from veterans, active military members and their families, about 40 percent were related to creditors who were trying to collect a debt that was not actually owed. Many complainants said that the debt collectors were unscrupulous in their tactics, making threats of arrest or other legal action to consumers. Of course, as we discussed a few weeks ago, debt collectors cannot harass or mislead you about your debts legally.

While it is not clear why debt collectors are targeting the military community, it is important for those who have been threatened by a debt collector to seek legal advice. No one deserves to be harassed by debt collectors — not even those who do have debts. An attorney can help make sure that you are protected from debt collectors while you determine whether or not you actually have any debt.

Source: Military Times, “Consumer Watch: Protect yourself from unscrupulous debt collectors,” Karen Jowers, April 2, 2014