Learn the debt collection process

The third tip in order to stop debt collector companies is to learn how the collection process works. This is extremely important since you will know how they think and how they act.

After all, one of the advices of the great Chinese general, Sun Tzu, was to know your enemy. By knowing the inner workings of their process, you will be able to know when they are lying, and when they are not.

Among the many questions that you need to ask to the credit reporting debt collectors, is one which is especially important. Why you are being contacted by them? Is it for a credit card debt? Or a mortgage loan? You will be surprised at the amount of errors that the credit collecting industry can make: especially if, for some human or computer error, they didn't actualize their systems. Use that to your advantage.

Remind the debt collector that you have privacy rights. For example, according to law, they can't call you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. local time. Another action followed by debt collectors is to threaten people with jail. Although this happened hundred of years ago, people no longer go to jail for not paying their debts. It is nothing but a lie.

Another way to stop calls is by instructing the debt collector that all future contacts should be made in writing. And, in order to enforce your position, send them a written letter. That way you will have a proof that you asked them to stop making calls.

Learn what debt collectors can and cannot do. And have that information on hand. If, a debt collector exceeds the law, you can remind him the name of the act, the year in which it was approved, and the things that he cannot do. Do not forget to mention that you can file an action to the FTC if they continue with that attitude.

Also, take care of not revealing too much information. You will be amazed by the amount of things that a debt collector can find out about you because of an innocent comment: especially with the help of the internet. Avoid nasty situations and limit yourself to the facts related to the money that you owe.

Store all the letters that you receive. Each one of them is important since they can be used in a court of law. And, make a resume of the number of times that you were called, length of duration you talked to them and the name of the person who contacted you. Make special notes in case they are necessary (for example, if they threatened to tell all your neighbors that you owe money)

Finally, tape the conversation, if you can. From all the states of the Union, 35 states and the District of Columbia permit you to secretly record your conversations. In the other 15 states, you can only tape the conversation with the permit of the other party.

The consumer rights involving debt collectors are very clear, so you don't have to suffer the mistreatment or abuse of debt collecting agencies. After all, after so much time since the Act was approved, the industry should already have fixed itself. In any case, it is a good tactic to remember your consumer rights with debt collectors. This kind of information can stop debt collector companies from bothering you.