This post is primarily aimed at assisting consumers who are dealing with debt collectors, but it can also be of benefit to consumers dealing with other issues such as automobile dealership fraud or the lemon law. The minute you sense something might be wrong with a consumer transaction or interaction (and it probably won’t take long when certain debt collectors call you), immediately go out and equip yourself with the means to record telephone and/or in-person communications. Then surreptitiously record all future communications. In Indiana (note that other states’ laws are different, if you are not recording in Indiana please check the law of the state where you intend to record), this is legal as long as one party to the conversation is aware that the communication is being recorded. Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, let the other party know they are being recorded. If you do, they’ll be on their best behavior and won’t show their true colors.
Recordings like this can be INVALUABLE if you end up having to go to court to protect your rights. They are a great way to hold companies and people accountable for what they say and what they have done. With debt collectors, you just never know when they are going to say something that violates the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) and you want to be ready when they do.