When you are unable to pay your bills, it is made all the more difficult to have to field calls and letters from a collector. When debt collectors are breathing down your neck it can be hard to find the time to think long enough to come up with a workable plan. The situation is even worse when the collectors are engaging in harassing behavior. Examples of collector harassment include making threats to arrest you, claiming a lawsuit has been filed when it has not (or legally cannot be filed), calling repeatedly at inconvenient times or while you are at work (especially after you’ve made a written request for the calls cease and desist), and efforts that fail to advise you of your rights.
If you are being harassed by a debt collector, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. In fact the law on what a collector can and cannot do is pretty clear. If a violation occurs, the wronged consumer has the ability to hold the collector responsible for their wrongful actions. Tips on how to handle harassment from a collector include:
- Keeping a diary of the dates and times of calls, the name of the person who called, and a brief synopsis of the content of the call will help by allowing you to pinpoint unlawful collection activity.
- Asking the collector to provide the name of the original creditor, and a pay history is a good idea. You are entitled to have the debt being collected verified to you, so you can be certain the debt is valid.
- Requesting all communication cease and desist is within your rights. Doing so should stop the calls and letters, but will not necessarily stop any legal action from being initiated against you.
Perhaps the most effective way to stop collector harassment is to enlist the help of a knowledgeable attorney. Once you are represented by counsel, all communication must go through your attorney and not to you directly. If you are being contacted by a debt collector and need help figuring out what to do, call us for help. We will review the facts of your case and let you know your options.
For more information about debt and debt management and collection, contact our office at www.DsouzaLegalGroup.com. We work with you to come up with solutions that work.
