New Jersey Lawyer Blog

If you are unable to make payments towards your debt, it will be probably sent to a collection agency. In order to collect this outstanding debt, a debt collector may contact you. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Fair Debt Collection Act (FDCPA) to prohibit debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive means to collect the outstanding balance from you. This article provides you with information about the debt laws that you must be aware of.

Debt laws

The Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in 1978 in order to protect you from the abuses of the collection agencies. However, you must keep in mind that if you are planning to get help of a bill consolidation or a debt settlement in order to pay off, you must inform it to the collection agency. This may assure them that you will pay back and ultimately reduce the harassments. Here are some debt laws you need to know in order to avoid being harassed by the collection agency.

1.Verbal threats – The act prohibits the debt collectors from using any kind of verbal abuse while dealing with you. They are not allowed to threaten you of publicly broadcasting your debt or threat you to enter false information on your credit report. They are barred from telling your employer about your debt and they are also forbidden to threaten you of taking legal action that they have no right to take.

2.Specific contact timings – The law mentions that the debt collectors are allowed to contact you from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your collectors may disobey the law if they call you during certain timings that you have mentioned as inconvenient. These hours may include when you are picking up your children or you are at work.

3.Filing legal action – The FDCPA states clearly that a debt collection agency needs to file a case only in your state and it must not be far from your home. You are not obligated to travel out of state in order to appear in the court.

4.Identification – A debt collection agency is obligated to pronounce two sentences while contacting you to collect debt. A debt collector must state that the communication is from a debt collector and it is attempting to collect a debt and any information that is acquired from you will be used for the purpose of obtaining the remaining debt. If a debt collector does not utter these sentences, he is violating the FDCPA rule directly.

Apart from the rules mentioned above, the debt collection agency must verify the debt that it is trying to obtain from you. Thus, you must be aware of these laws mentioned above in order to protect yourself from the abuses of debt collectors or hiring Consumer Protection Lawyers can be a good option. However, debts are always overwhelming and getting rid of it through a bill consolidation company or credit counseling agency will help you lead a happy debt free life soon.

Employer responsibilities in the State of New Jersey are quite in-depth and vivid. Insurance requirements, wage and hour compliance, prevailing wage, safety in workplace are some of the essential official contributions from them. There are labor laws enforced by NJ Department of Labor and Work Force Development that deals with wage and hour law, wage payment law, child labor Law etc.

For every employee of New Jersey it is really crucial to know your rights. Make sure you are not deprived of anything out of those benefits as well as abide by the rules and restrictions prevailing there in the employment contract. The division of wage and hour compliance controls the following workplace labor standards, few of which have been coined here:

Minimum Wage:  Effective wage rate is $7.25 per hour effective from 24^th July, 2009

Overtime wage rate: In excess of 40 working hours, the payment would be time x one half per hour for actual working hour.

Unpaid wages: To avoid illegal deduction of wages because of breakage, spillage or cash shortages

Fringe Benefits: Payment of holidays, vacation, sick leave, personal days and reimbursement of certain expenses

Mandatory Overtime Restriction: Only applies to health care workers where certain hourly employees have to work overtime

Employment of Minors: Issue of proper employment certificates for all minors under 18 years age

Farm Labor: It includes registration of crew leaders, authorizing investigation and site inspection of migrant farm labor camps, drinking water, toilet facilities, contractors, growers, food processors etc.

Sheltered workshop: Employment authorization to individuals with disabilities by charitable organization or institution at a rate less than the minimum wage. This requires the issue of special permit with the detailed duration, type of work and payment of proportionate wages.

Now if you are one of the victimized employees cheated by your employer, you need to acknowledge filing a wage claim to start the first process. If you are not sure whether The Division of wage and Labour would be able to help you then contact a city base local attorney for assistance. He can easily guide you how to claim    file anonymously and fill up the claim forms. It is advisable to get your employment contract verified by an attorney so that you can enjoy all the additional benefits from your employer.

Counselor Contact:

An employment rights law firm in New Jersey, “Console Law Offices” deals in employment contract compliance cases. They have been offering great consultation services to clients and supported by experienced attorneys.