If Creditors are Harassing You, Knowing Your Rights Can Help You in Ohio

Struggling with debt is overwhelming, but having creditors constantly harassing you is even more stressful. When your phone rings non-stop every day as bill collectors try to get what you owe, it can leave you with frazzled nerves. Although it might seem like a hopeless situation, you do have legal options to make the creditor harassment stop. These are a few things you can do to put an end to it.

Know Your Rights

You don’t have to accept it when debt collectors call and harass you. They try all types of tactics to bully and scare you into thinking the worst. It’s important to never lose your temper and yell at them. Remember that you have rights and that collectors have rules regarding contacting you. They are not allowed to call before 8 am or after 9 pm. You can also disallow them from calling your workplace and your family. Additionally, you can even tell collectors to stop contacting you altogether. A certified letter that details your wishes can be sent to the collection agency to cease all contact.

Make Sure There’s Proof of Debt

In some cases, bill collectors may contact you when there isn’t even a debt. Always check to ensure that there is proof of a debt. Legally, you don’t have to pay anything until after you have received a notice that proves you owe a debt. If the collection agency can’t or won’t give you documentation that proves the debt exists, you merely need to tell them to stop contacting you.

At the same time, even if you are aware that you owe a debt, the creditor is still legally obligated to prove it to you. This is essential because it can also protect you against possible fraud. In some cases, a third party may even purchase your debt without getting proof of it. This scenario can only benefit you.

It’s important to always be straightforward about your situation. If you are unable to pay your debt, you should inform your creditor of that. Always be honest. If you believe you will have money in the future that you can use to pay off your debt, inform your creditor of it. This can help to stop the collection calls.

Work Out a Deal

Although you might feel intimidated to do so, you should reach out to your creditors to try to find a solution. Many are willing to work with you and even will even forgive interest rates and fees tied to your debt, which means you end up paying a lower amount. At the end of the day, the creditor simply wants to be paid back, so many are willing to negotiate. If a third-party company is handling the collection, it too may be willing to work out a way to help you pay off your debt.

Seek Legal Assistance

You can also seek legal assistance if you feel you need help in avoiding creditors and debt collectors. The team of Wood & Brewer LLC has been serving clients in Worthington and Columbus, Ohio area struggling with debt and wanting help with debt settlement for over 2 decades combined. We invite you to feel comfortable in the decision to contact us and take us up on our FREE Consultation offer.