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WHAT TO DO IF A BILL COLLECTOR CALLS
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Many consumers who are behind on their bills dread the thought of telephone
calls from collectors. Bill collectors can be intimidating, but no consumer
should live in fear. After a person files for consumer bankruptcy, these calls
are not allowed. If you follow these rules, you can answer your telephone with
greater confidence even before filing for bankruptcy.
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Be truthful. Lies will surely come back to haunt you. Don't tell a bill
collector that "the check's in the mail" if it isn't. Your lie or promise will
likely be recited back to you in a later telephone call.
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Take notes. The collector will be taking notes, and you should too. Keep
track of what you told them and what they told you. Also, write down the name of
the person with whom you spoke and the date and time at which they called. This
information will be helpful if you speak with someone from this company again.
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Explain a temporary financial problem. If you're experiencing a temporary
setback in your finances, go ahead and explain the situation to the collector.
They may give you time to get through your situation.
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Admit if you cannot pay your bills. This takes much of the power away from an
aggressive bill collector.
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Get help. If you cannot pay your bills, call someone who can help – call
our Firm! We'll be glad to give you an initial consultation for FREE! Call us at
(513) 424-1660.
Below is what Creditors can
and cannot do to collect a debt under the
Fair Debt Collection
Act
How may a debt
collector contact you?
A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone,
telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient
times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt
collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your
employer disapproves of such contacts.
Can you stop a
debt collector from contacting you?
You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a
letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your
letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further
contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take
some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a
collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still
be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.
May a debt
collector contact anyone else about your debt?
If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the
attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may
contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone
number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting
such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell
anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.
What must the
debt collector tell you about the debt?
Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector
must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name
of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you
believe you do not owe the money.
May a debt
collector continue to contact you if you believe you do not owe money?
A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you
receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you
do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you
are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.
What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third
parties they contact.
For example, debt
collectors may not:
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use threats of
violence or harm;
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publish a list of
consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau);
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use obscene or
profane language; or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.
False statements.
Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a
debt. For example, debt collectors may not:
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falsely imply
that they are attorneys or government representatives;
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falsely imply
that you have committed a crime;
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falsely represent
that they operate or work for a credit bureau;
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misrepresent the
amount of your debt;
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indicate that
papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or
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indicate that
papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.
Debt collectors
also may not state that:
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you will be
arrested if you do not pay your debt;
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they will seize,
garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection
agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or
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actions, such as
a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be
taken, or when they do not intend to take such action.
Debt collectors
may not:
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give false credit
information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau;
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send you anything
that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when
it is not; or
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use a false name.
Unfair practices.
Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a
debt. For example, collectors may not:
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collect any
amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such
a charge;
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deposit a
post-dated check prematurely;
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use deception to
make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams;
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take or threaten
to take your property unless this can be done legally; or
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contact you by
postcard.
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