Using the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act to Stop Debt Collection Harassment

You know what the major downfall of stopping the harassment will be? Actually following through with the required steps.

Many of you just want the endless day-to-day calling to stop; at home, on the job, calling your cell phone - but you can put an end to this. I must warn you, once a debt collector starts contacting you its nothing but a headache to get them off of your back. The steps are not difficult but it takes a little time and effort on your part and that is where most people's downfall begins.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act clearly states in laymen terms that once these third-party bill collectors are notified to stop calling you they must abide by your request. Now, you may think that just telling them to stop calling you is enough notice, and you're absolutely right but to prove that you've told them to stop contacting you is a burden.

You must send them a certified letter explaining that you no longer wish to be contacted by phone and they should only update you with a letter via the USPS. Someone at their office must sign for this letter and you'll receive the certified signature in the mail.

How does this help? If the debt collection agency calls to your home, work or via cell phone you can sue them.

This tactic will only stop the debt collectors from calling you; they can still place this on your credit report.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was developed to help the consumer but as with everything else in the world, things change and people adapt to get around the system.

Debt collectors will not make it easy for you to contact them. They know the law and know if you send them a letter they must stop the harassment.

One issue consumer's face is they must find an address for the Debt Collection Agency in order to send a "cease and desist" letter. If you've received communication via mail from the Debt Collection agency then you can get this off of their letterhead but if they have failed to send you this information then its time to start investigating.

What name of the agency did the Debt Collector give you when they initially called? Do you have "Called ID"? If yes, grab the phone number off of the Caller ID and Google it. You should be able to get some online feedback from that number.

Next, from the online feedback you should have garnered a name of the agency; look up the name and search for which state they are located in then search for an address. If you've found the state and you're having trouble locating the address, look up the state's treasury dept or where a business can obtain a business license.

Many states allow you to search their online business license database to see if a vendor has a valid license; they also provide the address for the resident agent (the place where all mail is accepted and acknowledged).

You see how tangled this web can become?

While the Fair Debt Practices Act did provide solutions for the consumer to deflect Debt Collectors harassment, it did not make it easy.

Yes, it's possible to get a debt collector off your back but you must do some work to get the desired results.

Don't forget to read my other article, "Using the Statue of Limitations to Stop a Debt Collector" which explains why you shouldn't talk to a debt collector including answering any of their questions; you may not be liable anymore for that bill!