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How do I Make a Harassment Claim?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

To file a harassment claim, you will usually have to document the incident and then report it to someone in authority. For example, if you are being harassed in the workplace, you may make a harassment claim to your supervisor or a human resource representative. If you are being harassed at home, you may have to get the police involved. In the event that you are harassed by telephone or via the Internet, you may report it to the company that provides your service as well as to the police. In some cases, you may even find it necessary to seek a lawyer's help in putting a stop to the harassment.

In most cases, filing a harassment claim means determining to whom you should report it. This may depend on the type of harassment from which you are suffering. For example, if your neighbor is harassing you, you may file a harassment claim with the police. If a coworker or supervisor is harassing you, however, you may have to report it to your employer or a human resource worker. In the event that you are being harassed by the owner of the company for which you work, however, an attorney may be most likely to help you.

It's essential that all employees feel that workplace harassment claims will be dealt with fairly, promptly, and without retaliation.
It's essential that all employees feel that workplace harassment claims will be dealt with fairly, promptly, and without retaliation.

In the event that you are being harassed by telephone, you may report the harassment to the company that provides your telephone service. If the calls are merely annoying, reporting them to the telephone company may be sufficient. If the calls do not end, however, or are threatening, you may call the police to report them. You may choose to handle Internet harassment in the same manner. Unless you believe you are in immediate danger, these calls should be made to the local police department’s non-emergency number.

Purposely leaving garbage on a neighbor's property is considered a form of neighbor harassment.
Purposely leaving garbage on a neighbor's property is considered a form of neighbor harassment.

In the event that you are being harassed by a creditor, you may file a harassment claim with the Department of Banking, Trade Commission, or a similar organization in your jurisdiction. Before you do, however, you may do well to make sure the creditor is not merely taking acceptable steps to collect a debt. In most cases, creditors have the right to call you unless you specifically ask them not to and document this request in writing. They are usually, however, restricted from calling you numerous times in a short period, threatening you, making false statements to induce you to pay, or calling very late at night or early in the morning.

A suspect may file a harassment claim if they feel they were unfairly questioned by law enforcement.
A suspect may file a harassment claim if they feel they were unfairly questioned by law enforcement.

Documenting the harassment may help you to get results when you file a harassment claim. For example, you may keep a written report of the harassment and save harassing voice mail or email messages. If you have witnesses to the harassment, their reports may help as well.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

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    • It's essential that all employees feel that workplace harassment claims will be dealt with fairly, promptly, and without retaliation.
      By: redav
      It's essential that all employees feel that workplace harassment claims will be dealt with fairly, promptly, and without retaliation.
    • Purposely leaving garbage on a neighbor's property is considered a form of neighbor harassment.
      By: Manuela Manay
      Purposely leaving garbage on a neighbor's property is considered a form of neighbor harassment.
    • A suspect may file a harassment claim if they feel they were unfairly questioned by law enforcement.
      By: donserhio
      A suspect may file a harassment claim if they feel they were unfairly questioned by law enforcement.
    • Debtor's have rights to protect them from harassment by creditors.
      By: Gino Santa Maria
      Debtor's have rights to protect them from harassment by creditors.
    • In some cases, it may be necessary to seek a lawyer's help in putting a stop to harassment.
      By: Aleksandar Radovanov
      In some cases, it may be necessary to seek a lawyer's help in putting a stop to harassment.
    • Bullying is a common type of harassment in the workplace.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Bullying is a common type of harassment in the workplace.