Harassment by debt collectors can be aggravating, embarassing and depressing. You may be surprised to hear there are ways to stop debt harassment, if you know your rights. The easiest way to stop a collection agency from harassing you is to send a cease letter. Collection agencies are required by US federal law to stop contacting you once they receive this letter. You can find examples of cease letters online. These offer correct wording and instructions as to what you should and should not say.
The cease letter does not have to be involved and does not have to contain your reasons for not paying the debt. If it is possible it’s a good idea to have this letter sent via certified mail so that you can prove they did in fact receive it. Always keep a copy of any correspondence you send as well, in case you need to refer to it in the future.
Hiring an attorney to handle your case is another good way to stop debt collection harassment. Once a collection agency is made aware that you are represented by an attorney, they are prohibited by federal law from contacting you directly. While an attorney can be costly, if you are really being harassed they might be the best option to help you. An experienced attorney will be aware of the most current laws and can be especially helpful if you have a valid reason for disputing the debt.
You can also try to work out an agreement with any debt collector who is harassing you for payment. The debt collector almost always has a compromise figure they are prepared to offer you if they know you are reasonably sincere. Their job, after all, is to get something from you rather than nothing, and they know the longer a debt remains unpaid, the less likely it will ever be paid. Coming to a mutually agreed upon arrangement means that you will decide on an amount to pay, typically less than that of the entire debt, and agree on a debt repayment schedule. So long as you keep up on your end of the deal, the creditors should stop calling you for the most part. It’s possible they will call you to remind you of your payments though.
Sometimes the debt collection harassment can be entirely in error. For example, it might be on an account you closed in good standing or might even not be your debt but that of someone with a similar name. If this is the case you should inform the collection agency in writing. Once they receive this request they will have to stop attempts to contact you while they investigate.
If all of these tips fail and you are still being harassed, you may need to begin legal proceedings against the harassing agency. In such cases it is important to hire an experienced attorney well versed in consumer debt and bankruptcy issues. If collection agencies are harassing you in an illegal manner, an experienced attorney can not only get the harassment stopped, but may be able to start proceedings against them for violating the law.
Learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – FDCPA – and how it protects you from debt harassment. Visit FairDebtHelpers.com for a free evaluation of your case by an experienced fair debt attorney.
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