What Should You Not Say to Debt Collectors?
What Should You Not Say to Debt Collectors
There are many debt collection tactics that are used by rogue collection agencies. It is essential to know your rights as a consumer in order to protect yourself against these tactics and prevent debt collectors from contacting you.
1. Avoid Talking About a Debt That You Don’t Owe or That Is for the Wrong Amount or That is For a Debt You Have Already Paid
When a debt collector contacts you, they have no legal right to ask you about a debt that you don’t owe, that is for the wrong amount, that is for a debt you have already paid or that you want more information about. Unless they have a valid reason to contact you about the debt, they cannot harass you or threaten you with lawsuits, arrest, garnishment, attachment or sale of your property or wages.
2. Always Request Verification Before You Pay A Debt
Whenever a debt collector calls you, make sure you confirm that the call is from a legitimate company. Never agree to anything before you ask them for written verification that it is legitimate, including dates, amounts and the name of the original lender.
3. Beware of bogus debts and false statements
There are many bogus debts out there, so it is important to verify every single one before you agree to pay them. A debt may be bogus if the original creditor has made a mistake in reporting it or if someone stole your identity and is trying to use it to get money from you.
4. Be careful of misleading debt collection letters and calls
When a debt collection agency first contacts you, it must send you a written notice called a “validation notice.” This notice tells you the amount they think you owe, the name of the creditor and how to dispute it in writing. If the collection agency fails to send this validation notice within five days of your request, it is not allowed to continue collecting on the debt until it does so.
5. Keep a Log of Your Communication with the Debt Collector
If you are unsure of what to do in a particular situation, you should consider sending a letter to the debt collector asking them to stop contacting you. This will help you to maintain a record of your conversations with them and may also help you to protect your rights in the future.
6. Ask the Collector to Stop Contacting You at Unusual Times or Places
Debt collectors are not allowed to contact you at unusual or inconvenient times, like during your vacation or at work, unless they have a good reason for doing so. They must also be respectful of your time, and you can ask them to limit their calls and emails or stop contacting you altogether.
7. Ask the Debt Collector to Stop Using Harassment or Other Abuse Techniques
If a debt collector harasses you, you can file a lawsuit against them and win in court. This type of lawsuit will help you to protect your rights and will also help to ensure that the debt collector is not calling you again in the future.
