People suffering from debt problem often deal with debt collectors or debt collection agencies that resort to harsh tactics to force payment. If you’re in debt, how can you deal with this situation?
What You Can DO About Creditor Harassment
Consumers are advised to speak with their creditors at the first sign of trouble. If you think you will not be able to submit your payment on your deadline, contact your creditor right away and ask for an extension. Explaining your current financial situation will help your creditor see that you are doing your best to keep up with your repayment and that you are not in any way, trying to escape your obligations.
Many creditors are willing to set up new payment arrangements on behalf of their clients who are experiencing difficulty with their repayment. Nevertheless, you need to act quickly instead of waiting for your creditors to try and contact you. The worse that you can do is to hide from your creditors. Ignoring their calls will only put you in a bad light. Instead of winning your creditor’s consideration, creditors may think that you have defaulted on your debts.
However, being in debt does not give anyone the right to treat you with disrespect. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act clearly states that harassment is a direct violation of the federal law. Therefore, knowing your rights can save you from pain and stress brought about by abusive debt collectors.
The FDCPA Protects You
Your creditor must never use offensive, profane or abusive language when speaking with you about your debts. Debt collectors must never use threats to try to force a borrower to send in payments. Also, collecting debts during inappropriate hours (before 8am or after 9m) or disclosing details of your debt to any third party is a violation of your consumer right.
What can you if your debt collector is guilty of such acts? You can send your creditor a “cease & desist” letter telling them to stop further collection attempts in reference to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Upon receiving your “cease & desist” letter, a creditor or a debt collection agency must stop any attempt to contact you about your debts. Nevertheless, this will not change the fact that you owe money and that you are under the obligation to make repayment.
Even if a creditor or a debt collector has already ceased collecting debts from you, it is your duty to send in your repayments. Otherwise, your creditor may be forced to seek legal action against you.
In some, filing for bankruptcy may be the last solution. Remember that if you have already filed for bankruptcy, any debt collection attempts from any of your creditors must be stopped until your bankruptcy case has been resolved.
