Debt Harassment

Collection Contact

Debt collectors get custody of "bad" debts from original creditors either by way of assignment or purchasing them. Your creditor has no responsibility to notify you whether your account has exchanged hands with a collections agency. At times, the first indication of this is when the consumer receives a phone call or letter out of the blue. When a collections agency initially contacts a consumer, they must send an accompanying notice in the mail within a five-day span. The notice must be composed of:

In accordance with state and/or federal law, debt collectors must offer consumers privacy protection

• Total amount consumer owes
• Name of original creditor
• Possible actions taken to contest the debt

Debt collectors are allowed to contact consumers about debt via phone, fax, mail, or telegram at home or at work. If you are opposed to one of the methods of contact, put your request on paper, and send it in the mail to the collections agency.

If your employer prohibits you from receiving calls at work, let the debt collector know this and that you would appreciate a stoppage in these kinds of calls. If the hours that collectors can call without approval (8 a.m. - 9 p.m.) are untimely, make sure they are willing to call at an alternate time.

If you are being counseled by an attorney, debt collectors should only be contacting your lawyer directly, assuming you have notified them that you have one.