How Do You Get Rid of Debt Collectors

How to prevent or eliminate harassment by debt collectors.

Know your rights

In the United States, there are laws regarding what debt collectors can and cannot do. And a debtor has rights regarding their treatment. Collectors cannot contact you before 8 am or after 9 pm unless you have expressly told them otherwise. Nor can they contact your place of employment without permission. They cannot contact you if you alert them that you disagree that you owe a debt within 30 days, unless or until they prove that you do owe it. They also cannot contact you with postcards.

Moreover, you have control over how collectors are allowed to contact you. Many collectors prefer to do business on the phone, because most people do not have any way of documenting what was and wasn't said during calls. However, you are not required to deal with them in this manner. If you inform the collector that you do not wish to do business on the phone, they violate federal law if they continue to try to do so.

Get it in writing.

Legally, you are required to get written notice of your debt, to whom it is owed, and what will be done if payment is not received. You must get this notice within 5 days of their contacting you the first time. It is also highly advisable to keep copies of any documents you send them.

Tell them to leave you alone.

If you tell a debt collector, in writing, that you do not want them to continue contacting you, they are required to abide by that request. Similarly, if within 30 days of their first contact with you, you tell them that you do not believe you owe the debt. The must desist contacting you if you do this, unless and/or until they can provide evidence that you do owe the debt in question.

Note, however, that simply telling a debt collector not to contact you does not make the debt go away. It merely prevents the collector from contacting you again. You can still be sued or otherwise charged in order to force you to pay. Also, telling a particular collector to leave you alone does not apply to creditors themselves, only the particular collector. It is both possible and legal for your creditor to take his account to a different collection agency, who may then contact you.