The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) makes it illegal for a debt collector to communicate with any person other than you or your attorney about your debt. When a debt collector leaves a message on your answering machine (does anyone have these anymore?) or voicemail, it runs the risk that other people will overhear that a debt collector is contacting you. Embarrassing, right? According to FDCPA case law here in Minnesota, if a debt collector leaves a voicemail and mentions that you owe a debt, it may be breaking the law if a third party overhears it. If so, you may be entitled to $1,000 statutory damages plus any actual damages you incurred (such as emotional distress damages for invading of your privacy). The best part? You get your attorney's fees from the debt collector.