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Khafi — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:14:46 +0000

Every Debtor is Protected by the FDCPA

Khafi — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:38:42 +0000

The Fair Debt Collections Protection Act (FDCPA) was passed by Congress in 1977. Its purpose is to protect debtors from dishonest and abusive debt collection procedures. The act is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It covers almost all types of personal debts, including mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, and medical bills.

The FDCPA limits what debt collection agencies can do in order to collect a debt. These agencies may not lie, threaten, purposefully annoy, or disclose personal information about a debtor. However, some collection agencies will view these actions as a calculated risk. Since many people don't know their rights, bill collectors sometimes get away with these violations.

Bill collectors are not allowed to falsely represent themselves in any way. They may not claim to be lawyers or present papers as legal documents if they are not. Presenting legal documents as if they were not binding is also against the FDCPA. In addition, these companies cannot claim they will take legal action if they don't actually intend to do so.

No collection agency is allowed to collect more than the amount owed. You have no obligation to pay for expenses incurred by the bill collectors, such as postage or phone bills. No interest may be added above what was agreed to in the original debt. If you feel a collector is misrepresenting a debt, request a debt validation.

The FDCPA also prohibits threats. Bill collectors may not threaten to damage you or your property. Nor can they threaten to have you arrested or disclose personal information. Knowing your rights will help you identify which actions they can legally take and which are only meant to intimidate you.

All attempts to contact you must be reasonable and respectful. Collection agencies are only allowed to call between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm. They may not use profanity or any type of abusive language. If you have told them verbally or in writing, they may not contact you at work either.

A collection agency can contact family or friends, but only to gain contact information for you. In most cases, they are only allowed to contact a specific third party one time. In addition, they are not allowed to speak about your debt to anyone other than your spouse or lawyer. If you have a lawyer, the agency may not contact you directly without permission.

There are several actions you can take to protect your rights. After you've been informed of the debt, you have 30 days to request debt validation. This is a legal document that describes the precise amount you owe. In addition, if you request in writing that a bill collector stop contacting you, they must comply. They are then only allowed to contact you if they are taking legal action.

If you need to stop debt harassment, you can file a complaint both with the FTC and the Better Business Bureau. You may wish to take legal action, if there have been significant abuses. If you win, the collection agency may have to pay damages and court costs, plus up to $1000. Keep in mind, however, that this will not eliminate the debt.

Nick Messe is president of The Lead Frog LLC. Learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – FDCPA – and how it protects you from debt harassment. Visit FairDebtHelpers.com for a free evaluation of your case by an experienced fair debt attorney.

Five tips to reduce your company’s fuel costs

Khafi — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:22:00 +0000

With the rising cost of fuel, managing your fleet effectively is key to the successful running of your business. Vehicle tracking systems along with proper training can save your business a packet. Read out top 5 tips to reducing your company’s fuel costs.

1.Invest in Driver Training
Invest in a driver training program for your drivers, ensuring they are safe, reducing fuel wasting habits like idling the engine and aggressive driving and ensuring the vehicles in your fleet are driven safely to reduce the wear and fuel costs incurred through bad driving.

2. Review Energy efficient vehicles and type of fuel used.
Compare the fuels use in your fleet vehicles and identify cost and environmental benefits. Diesel, compared to petrol, compared to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), compared to natural gas or electric will all yield different results.

3. Control out of hours vehicle use
Try to reduce the number of unnecessary or repeated visits – making two trips when one can suffice will increase your fuel consumption. Monitor out of hours use of all your fleet vehicles to ensure that the fuel your company is paying for is benefiting the business and not your employees. Using vehicle tracking software can increase your ability to easily report on these key factors.

4. Monitor and maintain vehicles
Just a few statistics on this include:

* Keeping the Engine Properly Tuned give a Fuel Economy Benefit of 4%
* Regular Maintenance of Air Filters gives a Fuel Economy Benefit of up to 10%
* Ensuring tyres are inflated properly gives a Fuel Economy Benefit of up to 3%
* Using recommended motor oil gives a Fuel Economy Benefit of 1–2%

5. Choose the shortest route for all trips
Tracking the routes your vehicles use to reach each destination can help effective route planning. Saving your drivers time from idling in traffic or getting caught in road works can reduce fuel costs, particularly if you have many drivers making the same trip.

Trimble Vehicle Tracking Solutions can offer a whole host of reports showing where vehicles have been in any time period with playbacks of journeys made. You can also receive reports of vehicles used outside of work hours and highlight inefficient driving, helping you manage and reduce your fuel costs.