Westlake Financial Services: How to Handle Phone Harassment & Protect Yourself
If you’re being bombarded with calls or threats from Westlake Financial Services, know this: you are not powerless. Debt collection is legal only when done within strict boundaries mandated by federal and state laws. This article will explain when calls cross into harassment, what your rights are, and how to stop the abuse.
Who Is Westlake Financial Services?
Westlake Financial Services offers auto, personal, and subprime lending. When borrowers fall behind or default, Westlake or third-party agents may attempt to collect the balance. While such efforts are permitted, they must follow legal standards. Many consumers report receiving repeated calls, pressure tactics, or threats—behaviors that may violate consumer protection laws.
What Behavior Qualifies as Harassment?
Certain debt collection practices cross the line into unlawful harassment. Watch for:
Calls multiple times per day or frequent contacts in short timeframes
Calling you at unreasonable hours (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.)
Threatening legal action, wage garnishment, or arrest when not authorized
Disclosing your debt to family, friends, or coworkers
Ignoring your requests to stop contacting your workplace
Demanding payment without verifying the debt
Continuing collection while you dispute the debt
Using profanity, intimidation, or other abusive language
If Westlake uses any of these tactics, their conduct may violate your rights.
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from abusive collection practices. Key rights include:
Debt collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Harassment, threats, or abusive language is prohibited
Within five days of initial contact, you must receive written debt validation
You have 30 days to dispute the debt; collection efforts must pause until verification
Collectors may not misrepresent legal rights or outcomes
You can request that they stop contacting you—then communication is severely limited
If Westlake violates these rules, you may be eligible for statutory damages, actual losses, and recovery of attorney fees.
State Laws and Additional Protections
Many states enforce stronger protections than the FDCPA, such as:
Tighter limits on how often collectors can call
Prohibitions on workplace contact once you object
Higher damage awards under state law
Licensing or regulatory oversight of collection agencies
Depending on where you live, these state laws may give you added recourse against Westlake Financial Services.
What You Should Do If You're Being Harassed
1. Keep Detailed Records
Log every call or message: date, time, name or ID of the caller, phone number, and what was said. Save all letters, emails, voicemails, and texts. If permissible in your state, record phone calls. This documentation is essential if you need to file a claim.
2. Send a Debt Validation Request
Use certified mail to demand that Westlake prove the debt's validity. Ask for the original creditor, account history, statement records, and proof they have the legal right to collect. If they fail to validate, they may lose the right to continue collecting.
3. Issue a Cease & Desist Notice
You may send a written “cease and desist” letter telling them to stop contacting you, except to notify you of legal actions. Once received, their ability to call you is severely limited by law.
4. File Complaints
If harassment continues, take these steps:
File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Report to your state Attorney General or consumer protection agency
Bring a lawsuit under the FDCPA or your state’s consumer protection statute
5. Consult a Consumer Rights Attorney
An experienced consumer protection attorney can evaluate your case, draft legal letters or lawsuits, and represent you in court. Many operate on contingency, meaning you pay only if you win.
Is Westlake Financial Services Acting Illegally?
Westlake is a legitimate company—but legitimacy doesn’t grant free rein. They must abide by validation, communication, and non-harassment rules. If they can’t validate your debt, continue to harass you, or ignore your cease & desist requests, those may be violations.
Ask yourself:
Did they provide proper validation?
Are their calls within legal hours and limits?
Do they use threatening language without legal basis?
Are they ignoring your requests to stop?
If any answer is “no,” you may have a valid case against them.
Why You Should Act Now
Harassment often intensifies with time. Without intervention, calls may increase, stress mounts, and potential legal action may follow. Acting promptly—logging contact, disputing, demanding cessation, and seeking legal help—gives you the best chance to stop the behavior and recover damages.
If Westlake Financial Services is crossing legal lines with its collection tactics, you deserve protection and options.
