Debt Help Company Declares January 31st "Take Back Your Phone Day"

With collection agency complaints on the rise, Franklin Debt Relief is offering free form letters and advice for consumers dealing with creditor harassment.

(PRWEB) January 31, 2008 -- According to the Federal Trade Commission's Annual Report on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), more than 69,000 complaints against debt collection agencies were filed in 2006, up 4.5 percent from 2005, and yet again, debt collectors were the single biggest source of complaints for the FTC. Against this backdrop Franklin Debt Relief has declared January 31st its second annual "Take Back Your Phone Day" for consumers getting harassed by collections agencies. Franklin Debt Relief (http://www.franklindebtrelief.com/credit-card-debt-consolidation.html) is offering free advice and form letters for consumers getting unfairly harassed by debt collectors.

Fortunately for consumers, the collections industry is bound by a strict set of laws, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) that prohibit third party debt recovery agencies from harassing people. One of the most powerful provisions in the act is the right of a consumer to send a "Cease Communications" letter. As mandated by the FDCPA, once a collector receives one of these letters all collection activities must cease. Franklin Debt Relief CEO, Robert Zangrilli, advises to use this tactic sparingly, however. "Some collectors will simply refer the account to an attorney to pursue legal action after receiving this type of letter," he warns. "It's generally recommended to use a Cease & Desist in cases of extreme creditor harassment, or if the debtor's income and assets are exempt under federal or state law."

For most people, the easiest way to deal with collection agency harassment is satisfy the debt obligation, but for debtors with limited income, this is easier said than done. One of the leading ways for people experiencing a financial hardship to affordably deal with their debt obligations is debt settlement, also known as debt negotiation (http://www.franklindebtrelief.com/debt-settlement-resources.html). With the help of a debt negotiator, consumers can settle their balances for less than the principal. Moreover, once a collection agency receives notification that a debtor is being represented by a third party, all communications are supposed to be routed to that third party under the FDCPA.

About Franklin Debt Relief

Franklin Debt Relief is a debt reduction company located in Chicago, IL. FDR's "New Deal" program uses debt settlement and negotiation to provide financial recovery, relief & reform for consumers experiencing a financial hardship. Visit http://www.franklindebtrelief.com/bankruptcy-resources.html or call (877) 274-1260 if you would like free information about how to best combat collections calls.

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