subject: How Consumers Can Protect Themselves from Harassing Collection Calls [print this page] How Consumers Can Protect Themselves from Harassing Collection Calls
Just because you are in debt does not give banks or collection agencies the privilege of invading your privacy or harassing you to obtain payment. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was created to regulate debt collectors and penalize abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices among other wrongs. Unfortunately, debt collectors may be aware of the rules but often do not play by them. If you feel like you are the victim of debt harassment, contact an attorney's office that focuses on fair debt collection cases. It's a simple and effective way to stop collection calls for good.
Stopping collection calls won't get you out of debt. Sit down and plan a budget of your income and expenses, and put aside a certain amount of money each month to use for paying old bills. And before you start paying, think about which debts are most important to pay, as it may not necessarily be the ones that have the highest balances or interest rates. Food, shelter and safety are expenses that must always be placed highest on your list and so focus on keeping those bills current. Once you take care of the necessities then you can plan how to deal with the other debts and before you know it you will stop receiving those harassing collection calls. You may want to start living below your means until the debts are paid off once and for all. Perhaps you want to implement a strict cash-only budget and close credit card accounts that have the highest interest rates, or are unnecessary. Above all, understand that you can't get your credit card debt paid off with monthly checks for the minimum payments because you are only paying interest and barely chipping away at the principal balance.
When every account you are trying to cut has a zero balance, don't abandon your budget; instead, revise it little by little as your income improves and savings stabilize. Life is full of surprises and unexpected costs, so saving as much money as possible each month can prevent problems. So, if you are a victim of collection harassment , remember that it can be stopped. To end your financial problems, all you may need is a little legal help, a little planning, and good execution.
