| By :
Nick Messe
Debt collectors have but one task, that being to get someone to pay the bill. While many of these collectors are legitimate contractors of the original creditors, others may be unethical, aggressive third party debt buyers. Third party debt buyers purchase your original debt from other collection agencies for pennies on the dollar. The further removed the debt collector is from the original creditor, according to the Better Business Bureau, the more aggressive the tactics can become. If you are falling behind in your payments you must be prepared. First, you must know everyone to whom you owe money. Second, get to know the collection process. Third, understand and be prepared to exercise your rights. Item one is fairly self explanatory. But items two and three may be strange territory for the average consumer. Even if the debt is written off by the original creditor, it can still be purchased by an aggressive third party debt buyer. These aggressive third party collectors are banking on your lack of knowledge to harass you into paying a debt you may or may not owe using any means they feel they can get away with, be they legal or not. All debtors have certain rights and protections under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, regardless of who the bill collectors are. A debt attorney who has knowledge of the FDCPA can inform you of the legally permitted and illegal practices of bill collectors and even stop the debt harassment. If the collector has used any unscrupulous tactics, you should contact an experienced FDCPA attorney. Things such as stating that you committed a crime, saying that they are a lawyer or government worker if they were not, and threatening you with arrest or violence, are all not permitted. If they contacted you by phone at unreasonable times or after you have instructed them to contact you only by mail, or violated your privacy by leaving messages with neighbors or third parties, you may have a case. Incidentally spouses are not considered third parties. At this point, a debt attorney can use the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to protect you, inform you, unburden you, and provide you peace of mind. Collectors who violate the law may be forced to pay you damages for enduring their harassment or illegal practices. If you are contacted by a collection agency, get as much information as possible. If you feel you are a victim of debt collection harassment, or if a collection agency has acted in a way that you feel violated your rights or privacy, you should contact a debt attorney who is well versed in the FDCPA. They will know the proper, most effective and timely ways to interact with, and much more importantly, stop the aggressive collectors.
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