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How To Stop Bill Collectors
End Debt Collector Harassment Now
Four Ways to Stop Collection Agencies from Harassing
You.
1) Cease
Communication Letter
This is the best way
to handle bogus debts (debts that belong to someone else or
debts that you have already paid). This is also the best way
to handle smaller debts (debts that aren't worth enough to
take you to court). Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it is
illegal for bill collectors to contact you and attempt to
collect the debt once they receive your cease communication
letter. They could try to file a judgement with the courts,
but it isn't likely they would spend the money knowing they
will lose or knowing that the debt is too small to make it
worth their while. Here is a sample Cease
Communication Letter. Send it by certified mail with
return receipt so the collection agency can't pretend it
wasn't received.
2) Debt
Validation Request
Send a certified
letter with return receipt asking for validation of the debt
and the name of the original creditor. You have to do this
within 30 days of first being contacted by the bill collector
or they can dun you before you get the validation. Here is a
sample letter. Quite often,
collection agencies won't send anything or they will send some
kind of bogus verification. If this happens, try method number
3 below because the collection agency has broken the
law.
3) Catch
Them Breaking The Law
A lot of bill
collectors routinely violate the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act. If this happens to you, then you
can file a complaint with your state Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. For example, if
they call you at work after you told them not to, if they
don't send verification of the debt per your written request,
if they lie to you, if they threaten you with prison, etc.
Here is a sample letter. Another option
is to hire a lawyer and sue the collection
agency.
4) Settle
The Debt For Pennies On The Dollar
There are some cases
in which this would work. It depends on the attitude of the
bill collector. Some bill collectors are willing to work with
people but some of them are downright nasty. If the bill
collector handling your case seems reasonable you might be
able to work out a deal. Trying to negotiate a settlement is
an admission that you owe the debt so you need to be sure you
can follow through on the agreement. Remember to get
everything in writing if you choose this option. Even bill
collectors who seem nice can lie to you, but if you have it in
writing you're protected from this. Here is a sample letter.
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More Tips For Dealing With Bill
Collectors:
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It is
perfectly legal to hang up on bill collectors when
they call. If you get one that is obnoxious or
deceitful, just hang up.
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Use an
answering machine to screen your calls. Caller ID may
not work because a lot of collection agencies pay to
have it blocked.
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Communicate
only in writing whenever possible. Always use
certified mail with return receipt and save your
records.
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The information on
this page is not legal advice. Please see the disclaimer. |
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