When people struggle with debt problems and often fail to meet financial obligations, there is a good chance that the incessant phone calls looking for payment will start happening regularly on your home phone. While it may be somewhat understandable to receive collection calls at home, it can be downright infuriating to start receiving phone calls at your place of employment. When it comes to debt collectors calling your workplace, it leaves open the potential to harm your job situation. Some companies are very strict about employees making or taking personal phone calls during work hours and harassing collection calls can be detrimental to your reputation and position within the company.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was enacted by congress to help regulate the actions of debt collectors and attorneys in order to protect the rights of the debtor. Within these regulations, debtors have a right to request that the contact from the collectors stop when asked. In order for you to make a legitimate request that collectors stop calling you at home and at work, you need to submit a letter in writing. If they call, you can tell them over the phone to cease calling you and then send a certified letter with a  return receipt request, stating the same request to stop calling you at work and at home.

What If Your Request Is Not Honored?

If you contact the collector as instructed but the company fails to comply with your request, with the next call you should declare your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Make sure you know your rights when dealing with collectors. Since the FDCPA only regulates debt collectors, dealing with an original creditor is different. If it is an original creditor making contact with you at home or work, you need to be familiar with the law in your home state that governs original creditors.

In the event the status of you accounts changes, a debt collector is allowed to resume contacting you. They may call to report the following things.

• They have decided to give up collection efforts.

• They are turning your account over to a lawyer for further collection pursuits.

• They are planning to sue you.

 

Regardless of your individual situation, it is important you handle debt collectors with a cool head. Screaming, yelling, arguing, and ignoring will not help the situation. Be straight with the debt collectors and your creditors and follow protocol for dealing with the situation appropriately. Remember to document all correspondence including those that occur via telephone in the event you have to take action against unreasonable or unethical collection practices.