Being contacted by Lewis, McDonnell & Associates can be stressful and intimidating, especially if the calls feel constant, aggressive, or threatening. Many consumers are unaware that federal law provides strong protections against abusive debt collection practices. Understanding your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) can help you regain control, stop harassment, and determine whether a collector has violated the law.
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Understanding the FDCPA and Your Rights
The FDCPA is a federal law designed to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive debt collection practices. It applies to third-party debt collectors, including agencies and law firms that regularly collect debts on behalf of others. If Lewis, McDonnell & Associates is attempting to collect a consumer debt—such as a credit card, medical bill, personal loan, or other household obligation—they are required to follow strict legal rules.
One of the most common FDCPA violations involves harassment through repeated phone calls. Debt collectors are not allowed to call you excessively or with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass. While the law does not specify an exact number of calls, contacting you multiple times per day, back-to-back calls, or continuing to call after you have asked them to stop may qualify as unlawful harassment.
Collectors are also restricted in when they can contact you. Calls before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. (local time) are considered unreasonable unless you specifically agree to those hours. If Lewis, McDonnell & Associates is calling outside these times, they may be violating federal law.
False Threats and Misleading Statements Are Illegal
Another serious FDCPA violation involves false, deceptive, or misleading representations. Debt collectors may not threaten actions they cannot legally take or do not actually intend to take. This includes threats of lawsuits, wage garnishment, bank levies, or arrest when those actions are not imminent, permitted, or planned.
For example, a collector cannot claim that you will be sued “immediately” if no lawsuit has been filed or authorized. They also cannot imply that nonpayment is a crime or suggest that law enforcement will be involved. Arrest threats are almost always illegal in consumer debt cases. If Lewis, McDonnell & Associates has used scare tactics to pressure you into paying, this could be a clear FDCPA violation.
Collectors must also be truthful about who they are and why they are calling. Misrepresenting the amount of the debt, the legal status of the debt, or their identity . Even subtle misstatements or implications can cross the line into unlawful conduct.
The Importance of Debt Validation
One of the most powerful consumer protections under the FDCPA is the right to debt validation. Within five days of the initial contact, a debt collector must send you a written notice that includes:
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The amount of the debt
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The name of the original creditor
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A statement of your right to dispute the debt within 30 days
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Instructions on how to request verification
If Lewis, McDonnell & Associates failed to provide this written debt validation notice, their collection attempt may be unlawful. You are not required to pay or even discuss a debt until proper validation is provided. If you dispute the debt in writing within the 30-day window, the collector must stop collection efforts until they verify the debt.
Debt validation is especially important because collection agencies sometimes pursue incorrect, inflated, expired, or misattributed debts. Requesting validation forces the collector to prove that the debt is legitimate and that they have the legal right to collect it.
Workplace Calls and Third-Party Disclosures
Federal law gives you control over where and how collectors may contact you. If you inform a debt collector—either verbally or in writing—that you are not allowed to receive calls at work, they must stop immediately. Continuing to call your workplace after being told not to is a direct FDCPA violation.
Collectors are also strictly from disclosing your debt to third parties. They may not discuss your debt with family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or employers. Even leaving voicemails that reveal the existence of a debt to someone else can be illegal. The only limited exception is that a collector may contact a third party once to request basic location information, and even then, they may not disclose that the call is about a debt.
Abusive or Threatening Language Is Not Allowed
The FDCPA clearly prohibits abusive, threatening, or profane language. Debt collectors may not yell, insult you, call you names, or use intimidation tactics. They also may not threaten violence or other harm. Even if a consumer is behind on payments, they are still entitled to be treated with dignity and respect under the law.
If conversations with Lewis, McDonnell & Associates have involved verbal abuse, intimidation, or hostility, those interactions should be documented carefully.
What to Do If Your Rights Have Been Violated
If you believe Lewis, McDonnell & Associates has crossed legal boundaries, you may have options beyond simply blocking calls. Consumers who experience FDCPA violations may be entitled to:
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Statutory damages (up to $1,000 per case)
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Actual damages, including emotional distress
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Attorney’s fees and costs, often paid by the collector
You can also demand that a collector cease all communication by sending a written cease-and-desist letter. Once received, the collector may only contact you to confirm that communication will stop or to notify you of specific legal action.
Importantly, taking action can help not only stop the harassment but also hold abusive collectors accountable and prevent similar conduct against others.
Take Action Now
You do not have to endure debt collection harassment, intimidation, or unlawful practices. If Lewis, McDonnell & Associates has violated your rights under the FDCPA, you may be able to stop the calls and pursue compensation.
✅ Take Action Now:
https://protectionforconsumers.com/stop-lewis-mcdonnell-associates-debt-collection-harassment/
