If your phone rings one more time today, you may have to shut it off completely. Every time you watch a TV show, place your own call or try to listen to music, another call rings through. You know you’re behind on a few bills, but there’s nothing you can do about it. Unfortunately, the calls keep coming.
There are a few different ways to get debt collectors to stop calling you. To start with, get to know the laws surrounding debt collection.
First, know that debt collectors are ordered to abide by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Debt collectors may not:
- Call you about debts you don’t owe
- Continue to call you without providing verification of the debt upon request
- Call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- Call repeatedly
- Call at any time you’ve said is inconvenient
To stop calls, ask the debt collector to communicate by writing. After that, the collector does need to send you letters to communicate. You can also send a cease and desist letter. This letter can only be used against third-party collectors, not the company you originally did business with.
Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act are serious, so the majority of collectors will abide by the rules.
Should you consider bankruptcy as an option?
When you’re in over your head with debt and can’t make payments on time, it will continue to cause issues like what you’re dealing with now. One possible solution is to use Chapter 7 bankruptcy to get out of debt and to end creditor calls immediately. Your bankruptcy could help you get back on track financially, so you won’t have to worry about disruptive calls all throughout the day anymore.
