Debt Collectors

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Credit Repair
Dealing with Credit Bureaus and Debt Collectors

Dealing with a debt collector can be one of life's most stressful experiences. Harassing calls, threats, and use of obscene language can drive you to the edge. What's worse, a collector may embarrass you by contacting your employer, family or neighbors. You may even be hounded to pay a debt that is not rightfully yours. Sure, collection agencies have a job to do. Even so, there are limits on how far a debt collector can go.
You Don't Have to Put Up With Debt Collector Harassment!
No Matter How Much You Owe...
Or
How Much They Are Pressuring You!

Collectors can
  • Contact you in person, by phone, mail (except for postcards), telegram or fax. They make not make this contact at inconvenient times or places -- say, before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. -- unless you agree.
  • Contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once and typically cannot tell anyone that you owe money.
  • Send you notice within five days of first contact, telling you the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.

Collectors can't
  • Continue contacting you once they receive written notice to stop. A letter stops all communication except to say there will be no more contact or to notify you of a specific action that is being taken against you.
  • Contact you directly, once they are aware that you are represented by an attorney.
  • Contact you at work if they have been informed that your employer disapproves of such workplace contacts.
  • Contact you if, within 30 days of receiving the written notice, you send written notice stating that you do not owe the money. If, however, they send proof of the debt -- such as a copy of the bill -- they can renew collection activities.
  • Harass or abuse you, or any third parties, when they make contact. This includes obscene or profane language, use of the phone to annoy people, threats of arrest, threatening legal action they have no intention of taking and more.
  • Use false or misleading statements to collect a debt, such as implying that you have committed a crime, misstating the amount owed or representing that they work for a credit bureau or credit-repair company.

If you believe a debt collector has violated the law, you can

  • Sue in state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for any damages suffered, plus up to $1,000, as well as court costs and attorney fees. A group of people can band together to sue a debt collector for damages up to $500,000, or 1% of the collector' s net worth, whichever is less.
  • File a complaint with your state attorney general' s office. Find your state attorney general through the National Association of Attorneys General.
    which oversees the application of any state debt-collection laws, and the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a complaint at www.ftc.gov or by calling toll-free to 1-877-FTC-HELP.
  • You can also file a complaint with the BBB


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