Millions of people in debt have had the experience of getting called by debt collectors.
You may be in this situation, and wondering what you can do about it.
How do you make bill collectors stop calling you at home, at work, and late in the evening by bill collectors? If you're in this situation, you're in luck.
There is a law, known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which keeps you safe from harassment from collection agencies.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) outlines exactly what actions debt collectors can and cannot use to collect on your debt.
Here are the top 3 ways to make bill collectors stop calling you:
Be a smart consumer by knowing your rights under the FDCPA.
By knowing your rights, and being assertive about enforcing your rights, you can avoid hassles, headaches, and harassment from debt collectors.
You may be in this situation, and wondering what you can do about it.
How do you make bill collectors stop calling you at home, at work, and late in the evening by bill collectors? If you're in this situation, you're in luck.
There is a law, known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which keeps you safe from harassment from collection agencies.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) outlines exactly what actions debt collectors can and cannot use to collect on your debt.
Here are the top 3 ways to make bill collectors stop calling you:
- Put it in writing -- The first, and best way to make them stop calling you is to let the debt collector know in writing that you "wish the debt collector to cease further communication" with you.
They are then legally obligated to stop contacting you in any form or fashion after they receive your letter, with a few specific exceptions.
These exceptions are outlined in the FDCPA. - Remind them of the law -- A debt collector can call your workplace, but only to find out your personal telephone number.
If they call your workplace and inform your employer about your debt so they can pressure you into paying, they are in violation of the law.
Make sure that the creditor knows that you know your rights under the FDCPA.
If they persist in calling others to inform them about your debt, you may be within your rights to sue them for damages. - Be a tattle-tale -- If debt collectors continue to call you, even after you've notified them in writing to stop calling you, make sure the proper authorities know.
Start by telling the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC is the government agency that enforces the FDCPA.
The FTC's main source of information about bad debt collectors is consumer complaints, so let them know you have a complaint.
Make sure beforehand that you've collected information about the debt collection agency and the agent that has been harassing you to try to collect from you.
Keep track of when you were called, by whom, and what they said.
The FTC can use this information if and when they take the collection agency to court.
Be a smart consumer by knowing your rights under the FDCPA.
By knowing your rights, and being assertive about enforcing your rights, you can avoid hassles, headaches, and harassment from debt collectors.