A debt collector is making threats to ruin my reputation, is this legal?
Talk to a Debt Relief Attorney
Get Help with Debt from an Attorney Near You

Select the type of Lawyer you need
A debt collector is threatening to ruin my reputation. He says that he’s going to tell my boss and my family that I’m a cheat and deadbeat who can’t be trusted. He’s also been calling me day and night. How can I stop him?
This site does not provide legal advice and users of this site should not interpret any of the information presented here as legal advice. The information provided merely conveys general information related to commonly asked legal questions. We are not a law firm and the employees responding to questions are not acting as your legal attorney. You should ultimately consult with a Lawyer for your case.

Answers
You just have to tell him to stop. Under the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), collections agencies and debt collectors:
So the debt collector should under no circumstances call your boss or family to tell them you are a deadbeat, and should not be harassing you; those sorts of phone practices are specifically made illegal. You can further tell them (in writing) to stop all calls.
Of course, they can still go ahead with other legal remedies, including potentially suing you—you can’t make them give up on collecting a lawful debt. But you can force them to do it the right way, by the numbers, and not be making threats or harassing you.
If a debt collector is harassing you or violating the rules, one option you have would be to report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You don’t mention your state, but many states also have government units or agencies that will look into abusive debt collections practices; they may also have their own fair debt collections laws.
Posted by Steven Sweig on 28 Apr 2010
Not sure where to start? Use this form to contact an experienced attorney. They will provide a free consultation and assist you with choosing the right path for your case.
Talk to a Lawyer
Describe Your Case
Tell us more about your case so that we can show you lawyers that serve your area.