Debt Collection: Dealing with a Collection Agency

Credit collection agencies have an annoying habit of harassing people on a daily basis. Harassment may include telephoning their home or cell phone several times throughout the day, mailing collection notices, or even threatening debtors with a lawsuit. Unfortunately, collection agencies are simply doing their job. Therefore, little can be done to stop their attempts at making contact. Still, being hounded by a credit collection agency is embarrassing. Some people have had to change their telephone numbers. In extreme cases, persons have even moved their residence in a last ditch effort to hide from creditors.

Rather than making changes to personal telephone numbers or finding a new place to live, persons owing money should try other approaches to calming creditors. There are tactics for dealing with a collection agency. Nonetheless, it will require work on your part. Consider the following tips for handling collection agencies.

Stop Avoiding Phone Calls: Even if you do not have the money owed to a collection agency, avoiding the phone calls or correspondents will not make the problem go away. If anything, collection agencies will intensify their efforts. By intensifying, you can expect upwards to ten phone calls and messages daily. However, if you speak to a representative and arrange a payment plan, you alleviate the annoying calls. Of course, if you do not live up to your end of the bargain, the phone call will begins again.

Establish a Payment Plan: Some collection agencies are flexible. As long as a debtor pays something toward the debt, this is generally enough to ease harassment. For this matter, consider making small payments every week. If possible, arrange for the collection agency to automatically withdraw weekly or monthly payments. Regardless of how much is owed, the collection agency can only withdraw authorized amounts.

Look into Claim: Often times, people will complain of collection agencies harassing them for money not owed. If this happens, ask the debt collection agency to provide proof of the debt. By law, alleged debtors are entitled to this information. If the agency cannot provide proof, they are required to cease collection on the account.

Maintain Accurate Records: When repaying a debt or investigating a claim, keep copies of all paperwork. Paperwork may consist of copies of all checks written, money order receipts, and copies of all attorney letters sent to the agency. Copies are useful if the collection agency does not credit a payment or denies receiving any correspondents.