There is nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of dinner and receiving one of those annoying debt collection calls. You may have accepted the fact that you are late on some of your bills but that doesn’t keep the creditors from calling. One of the most important things that you can do as a consumer is to know what your rights are. Even though you owe a debt to someone, it does not mean your rights have been taken away.
Stopping the Phone Calls
When you get your first call from a debt collector do not do anything for about 5-7 days. This is typically what the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act considers to be an adequate time frame for collectors to send you a written notice that tells you how much you owe, and so forth. This gives you the opportunity to dispute the charge if it is not yours or you suspect identity theft.
If the debt does belong to you, you can stop the phone calls by letting the collector know that all communication from here forward will be through your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, you can send the collector a cease and desist letter which makes them aware that all future communications must be in writing.
Stop the Harassment
Even though there are laws set in place for debt collectors, it does not mean that they will all follow them. If you send a letter and they continue to contact you, then you can have the number blocked from your phone. Or you could go the route of having your phone number changed all together. Make sure that your debt collector is aware that you are aware of the laws that the FDCPA has set in place and that you are willing to take action if laws are broken.
Seek Help
If you are still struggling with debt collector harassment even after using these techniques then you may want to contact a professional who specializes in helping you to eliminate credit card debt in Brooklyn, NY. Seeking professional help is typically the best way to go as many agencies understand about all of the laws that are set in place.
You do not have to suffer through harassment. Know what your rights are and study them and know the FDCPA by heart and you will never have to deal with harassment again.
