If you’re behind in paying your bills, a debt collector is probably calling you.
If a debt collector contacts you about a past-due bill, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter.
Then if you decide that you don’t want the debt collector to contact you again, tell them – in writing – to stop contacting you.
Write the debt collector a letter in which you advise that they are no longer to contact you regarding the debt. Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document when the collector received your letter.
Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact.
Once the debt collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, except in two instances:
- to tell you there will be no further contact, or
- to tell you that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you.
If you don’t have an attorney, a debt collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Debt collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you or your attorney.
If you’re stressed out because debt collectors are filling your mailbox with collection letters and are calling you non-stop from morning ’til evening, fill out the “Contact Dan” form on the right side of this page and tell me about your situation. Or just pick up the phone and give me a call. I’ll be happy to listen to you explain your financial situation to me, and then I’ll share with you how filing bankruptcy would affect your specific situation. If you’re like most of the good people I work with, filing bankruptcy will stop the debt collectors, greatly reduce your stress and restore your peace-of-mind.
