You don’t have to hang up on debt collectors, try these tips

At 7:59 a debt collector calls a few bill you have already paid. What might be the next step to protect your credit from failure? First of all, don’t panic. You have many rights when coping with debt collectors, provided by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Here are six things to know when a third-party debt collector contacts you.

If you don’t think you owe the cash, dispute the debt in writing. Send the debt collector by certified mail disputing the debt inside 30 days of initial contact. Once he receives the dispute letter, he must provide written proof of debt or stop all communication with you. Make sure that keep all records of all debt collection calls and messages. Although a debt collector is under no obligation to respond inside a selected time period, you’ll be able to reasonably expect to receive a response in a timely manner.

When you dispute a debt, the debt collector must report it as “disputed” to the credit bureaus they work with. The dispute will remain on your credit record until the debt collector provides you with proof that the quantity you owe is in actual fact correct. “Disputed” information may remain on your credit record for several months if you happen to don’t accept the debt collector’s initial proof.

You can file a grievance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the organization liable for enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA is the fundamental federal law that prohibits debt collection agencies from using foul language and unfair or deceptive practices to collect outstanding debts. You can file a grievance with the FTC online, call 800-382-4357, or send an email to: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

If you’re represented by a lawyer, the debt collector can only contact your lawyer. If they call you, provide the lawyer’s name and end the decision.

Debt collection agencies are required by law to offer you essential information concerning the debt, including: the name of the creditor, the quantity owed, and the way to dispute the quantity or get it verified. If this information isn’t provided upon first contact, the debt collector must send you written notice with the relevant details inside five days of the primary contact. If you have questions on the knowledge provided to you by a debt collector, request a proper verification of the debt in writing.

If you make a written request for a debt collector to stop contacting you, the debt collector must comply to confirm that there might be no further contact and to notify you that the debt collector or creditor may take certain actions that she or he is legally permitted to do, akin to a lawsuit against you .

Debt collectors have many limitations. When it comes to debt collection notices, the Debt Collection Act says debt collectors cannot say or do many things, including:

• Using vulgar or obscene language
• Harassing you with repeated calls
• Please call before 8:00 or after 9:00 p.m. unless otherwise agreed
• Calling work if you happen to asked them to stop
• Talking to anyone apart from you or your lawyer concerning the debt
• Falsely impersonating a lawyer or law enforcement official
• Falsely impersonating a representative of a credit bureau
• Threatening to garnish wages or seize property in the event that they don’t actually intend to accomplish that.

Remember: Telling a debt collector to stop contacting you doesn’t prevent them from pursuing other legal remedies if you happen to owe them, including filing a lawsuit against you or reporting negative information to a credit reporting company.