Ever since Americans first arrived in the 1820s, Texas has been known as a place that is very friendly to debtors and consumers. A great number of Texas debt defense lawyers are proud to uphold that tradition.
Houston debt defense attorneys have been busy in the wake of the landmark National Mortgage Settlement, which exposed “robo-signing” and other shadowy collections activities. Moneylenders and debt-buyers have been forced to seek other ways to wring money from unsuspecting consumers. Some states are taking aggressive action against debt collectors. For example, in California, the proposed Fair Debt Buying Practices Act would require debt-buyers to provide written proof that they have authority to collect a debt, as well as the amount owed.
Texas debt defense lawyers do not need to wait for the legislature to act ― in fact, the rest of the country seems to be just catching up with Texas. The practices that California wants to outlaw have been illegal in Texas for years:
- Texas has very strict laws that prevent harassment and require the debt-buyer to validate its claims that you owe money.
- If a debt-buyer threatens to sue you, and at least four years have elapsed since the date of delinquency, that threat is both inaccurate and illegal.
- Threats from a debt-buyer of garnishing your wages or putting a lien on your house are both inaccurate and illegal.
If you are having issues with a debt-buyer, contact The Law Office of David Fernandez, P.C. to schedule your confidential consultation.
