If you are facing calls from creditors it is possible you may be confused as to why you are receiving them. You may believe that you paid in full the debt the collectors are trying to collect, or even never accrued the debt in the first place. Confusion regarding these matters can lead to difficulty in determining how to address these collection attempts and possibly even result in you paying amounts you don’t owe. To try to keep these instances to a minimum, it is important you understand your rights.
The first thing to know is you have a right to details about what the collector is seeking. The Federal Trade Commission has rules in place that require debt collectors to provide information regarding the debt allegedly owed. In addition to the amount being sought, the name of the creditor that is owed the money should be provided. Information regarding what steps to take if you don’t believe you owe the money should also be included in that communication.
Other things you should be aware of include:
- The likelihood of a collector not even being a debt collector if they refuse to provide corroborating information regarding the amount allegedly owed.
- Your right to seek to have the lawsuit thrown out if the statute of limitation for the collection of the debt has passed.
- Debtors cannot act in an abusive manner in the course of trying to collect the debt. If they do, you may take legal action against them.
If you are confused about why a debt collector is contacting you, or what your options are, a lawyer may be of assistance in helping you understand your rights and how to protect them. The sooner that individual is contacted, the better.
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