Whether you owe money for an overdue medical bill, credit card balance or even to the furnace guy who made last winter’s repair, getting a phone call from a collection agency is never pleasant. And it’s even more troubling when the debt is old (or “time-barred,” meaning that the creditor can no longer legally collect it).
What is debt collection process?
The Incassobureau inschakelen bij vorderingen is that consumers have several legal remedies available if a collection agency violates federal and state laws. One of the most effective things you can do is to keep a “collections log,” which includes recording when and who you talk to, what debt they’re calling about and what they say. You can use a simple notebook or even your cell phone. This information can help you document inconsistencies and violations such as a collector making repeated false, misleading or harassing statements.
Debt collectors aren’t allowed to ask you for more money than you owe, and they must send you a written notice of how much you owe within five days of your first contact with them. This notice must include the name of the creditor, how much you owe and what rights you have.
Collectors are also barred from giving out your personal information or contacting other people about the debt without your consent. Additionally, if you file for bankruptcy and the automatic stay applies to the debt, it’s important that you tell the collector so they don’t continue trying to collect it.
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