Being Bugged By Debt Collectors? What You Need To Know

Do you have debts that you are unable to pay, and now you are being bugged by debt collectors trying to get their money back? If so, you may feel overwhelmed by the letters and phone calls asking for money you do not have. Here's what you should know about debt collectors.

A Debt Collector Is Not A Form Of Law Enforcement

One thing to understand is that a debt collector does not have any type of legal authority concerning the debts that you owe. They cannot arrest you for not paying your debts, and they can't threaten you. An owed debt is a civil matter, not a criminal matter. There are rights that a debt collector can violate in the way that they interact with you about your outstanding payments.

A Debt Collector Must Show ID

If you are approached by someone that says they are a debt collector, they must provide identification to prove what their name is and the company they're working with. If they fail to give you an ID, you don't need to talk to them. If the debt collector doesn't leave from your property when told, you can contact the police and have the debt collector removed from your property.

A Debt Collector Cannot Misrepresent Themselves

Know that there are people that work on behalf of a company that you owe a debt to, and then there are debt collection companies that try to collect a debt that they have purchased from other companies. If you are interacting with a debt collector, they must tell you who they are working for. Sometimes a debt collector will tell you they work for the original company that you owed money to, but bought the debt for a fraction of what it was worth in an attempt to collect the full amount from you.

A Debt Collector Must Listen To Contact Requests

If a debt collector has been contacting you at work or a place where you don't want them visiting you, it is a good idea to provide formal written requests about them not contacting you at these places. If they violate your request, you may actually have a lawsuit on your hands for violating your request.

Consider filing for bankruptcy if you know you will be unable to pay back the debts that you owe. It's a legal process that will help stop debt collectors from contacting you while you get your financial situation sorted. You will need a bankruptcy lawyer to help you through this process, such as Martinez Law Firm. 


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