Debt collectors association names new head

Debt collectors sometimes get a bad rap, but the new head of the nation's debt collectors association proves that these professionals can be friendly, well-spoken people, CreditCards.com reports. Mark Neeb was recently named the president of the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals and he told the news source that he hopes to dispel many of the negative stereotypes regarding his industry, found in movies and television and perpetuated by the real-life abuses of just a few bad eggs. In an interview with the news provider, Neeb said that he hopes to educate consumers, government officials and others about his industry, including the challenges and realities faced by debt collectors today. "There are bad attorneys and bad doctors and there are bad bill collectors," Neeb explained. "I think the public has become accustomed to hearing just the bad stories about our industry, so their connotations about our industry are understandable. My main goal is to help educate America about what we do." According to the Federal Trade Commission, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits these professionals from using abusive, unfair or deceptive tactics. They are also not allowed to call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless customers agree to it.