Nor may a debt collector harass a consumer. Those damages include physical injury, emotional injury and expenses incurred as a result of the collector's conduct. D.C. If you have a complaint about an item or service you purchased, know your rights, advises Greenfield. There are a number of books written for consumers on this topic, he said. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Division of Credit Practices both publish educational brochures.
Many states also publish educational material for consumers.
In Missouri, for example, the Missouri Division of Finance in Jefferson City produces a series of brochures on consumer credit. Although it is a jungle out there, consumers with some knowledge of the laws enacted for their benefit at least have a whip in their hands when they enter the lion's den of the marketplace.