What should I do if I can’t pay my credit card bills?
If you can't pay your credit card bill, it’s important that you act right away. Contact your credit card company immediately because many creditors may be willing to work with you to change your payment if you’re facing a financial ...
While the creditor does not have to tell you before sending your account to a debt collector, usually they will try and collect the debt from you before sending to a collector. Sometimes collection agencies manage the entire account receivables ...
Can I be arrested for an unpaid debt?
A debt collector can’t threaten to or have you arrested for an unpaid debt. If you’re sued and you don’t comply with a court order, though, you could be arrested. It’s a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ...
What is a debt relief program and how do I know if I should use one?
Debt relief or settlement companies are companies that say they can renegotiate, settle, or in some way change the terms of a person's debt to a creditor or debt collector. Dealing with these companies can be risky. Debt settlement companies, ...
A judgment is a court order that is the decision in a lawsuit. If a judgment is entered against you, a debt collector will have stronger tools, like garnishment, to collect the debt. A judgment is an official result of ...
Can a debt collector still collect a debt after I’ve disputed it?
A debt collector must stop all collection activity on a debt if you send them a written dispute about the debt, generally within 30 days after your initial communication with them. Collection activities can restart, though, after the debt collector ...
What is harassment by a debt collector?
Harassment by a debt collector can come in different forms, including repetitious and excessive communications through one or multiple channels intended to annoy or abuse you. Keep good records of all of your communications with a debt collector. ...
What should I do if I’m sued by a debt collector or creditor?
If you’re sued for an unpaid debt, you should respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through a lawyer by the date specified in the court papers. If you have been sued or “served” by a creditor or debt collector ...
Can debt collectors tell other people, like family, friends, or my employer, about my debt?
No. Under federal law, a debt collector may contact other people but generally only to find out how to contact you. General Limits on Contact There are strict limits about what debt collectors can say or ask about you. A ...
Under the debt collection rule, debt collectors have to provide you with certain information about your debt, known as validation information. Generally, this information is provided in a written notice sent as the initial communication to you or ...
What is a debt collector and why are they contacting me?
A debt collector is generally a person or company that regularly collects debts owed to others or who has the primary purpose of collecting debts. They’re likely contacting you because they’re trying to reach a person who may owe a ...
What laws limit what debt collectors can say or do?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that limits what debt collectors can do when attempting to collect certain types of debt. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) covers how debts are reported in credit ...
