If you have not been paying your monthly installments of debts for some time, debt collectors are likely to contact you. These agents may start breathing down your neck by calling you several times a day. They are likely to give you calls plenty of times during day and sometimes even at night. These are common things, but this doesn’t mean that you should allow them to make your life hell. You have your rights. Know them.
They Cannot Contact You Before You Get An Official Notice Of The Debt
If you have defaulted on debts, your lenders will first send you an official notice regarding the same - usually via a registered letter. If you have not received the letter yet and the debt collectors are still contacting you, you have the right to first warn them against such activities. If they still keep calling you three times a day and try to frighten you over phone, you can file a lawsuit against them accusing them of mental harassment.
They Cannot Contact You If You Are Disputing The Debt
If there is a dispute between you and the lender over the debt, the collection agents cannot legally contact you. If they still do, all you have to do is just inform them about the dispute in writing. The collection agents will then try to verify the things. They cannot contact you until the dispute is resolved.
Are They Behaving Aggressively?
You should not be surprised if the collection agents behave aggressively with you. The best way to fight this aggressive behavior of the agents is to contact the attorney general of your state. Inform them about this aggressive behavior of the debt collectors and ask them whether the agents’ activities fall within the guidelines of the state. They obviously don’t. The attorney general knows what he/she has to do about this. The next time the collection agents contact you, you will be surprised to see them behave decently.
Request Them In Writing To Stop Contacting You In Odd Hours
If the collection agents are contacting you in odd hours, you should try to get their address. Once you get that, all you have to do is send them a letter requesting them to stop contacting you unreasonably. This letter will be a solid piece of evidence in case you file a lawsuit against them accusing them of harassment.
Another great strategy is to negotiate the deal with them. For example, you can offer to pay a heavy portion of the debt, such as 75%, but only if they will eliminate the entire debt. Not many people know this, but debt collectors are likely to jump at such offers.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act has specified your rights in detail in such situations where the debt collectors harass you in different ways to pay off the debts. Visit my website for more information on how to go for debt settlement in the easiest possible way.