Today, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, the state agency that, in part, has a role regulating certain businesses in this state, released an important press release on the growing problem of collections fraud, specifically collectors or persons acting as collectors making phone calls to attempt to collect a debt that may never have existed, or may have already been paid. The full release can be found here (http://www.wdfi.org/newsroom/press/2012/FakeDebtCollectorAlertMarch2012.pdf) and describes certain predatory practices and what consumers can do about them. Collectors of debts can often be zealous in their attempts to obtain payment, but they do not have free reign to engage in harassing or dishonest practices. If you have a question or concern about a collector going too far, an attorney may be able to help.
