Why does a debt collector keep calling me?

A debt collector may be trying to contact you because: Creditors may use their own in-house debt collectors or may refer or sell your debt to an outside debt collector. A debt collector also may be calling you to locate someone you know, as long as the collector does not reveal that they are collecting a debt.

What to do if you get a collection call about a debt?

Find out who’s calling. Get the name of the collector, the collection company, its address, and phone number. 2. Get “validation” information about the debt. Within 5 days of first contacting you, debt collectors must “validate” or tell you the amount of the debt, the name of the current creditor, and how to get the name of the original creditor.

Can a debt collector call a friend or family member?

Debt collectors are legally allowed to call your friends or family to try to locate you. But they cannot call these people to try to collect the payment for the debt, and they are only allowed to call once unless they believe there may be new information to be found.

Do you have to give your name to a debt collector?

While the caller isn’t required to give you their name, they do have to give you the name of their employer under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It’s also a good idea to write down the date and time of the call, so you have a record of the frequency if you need to pursue legal action for harassment. 2.

How to report a phony debt collector to FTC?

The FDCPA requires debt collectors to halt communications if you send them a request in writing, and most legitimate debt collectors will oblige while phony debt collectors may not give you an address at all. If possible, report all suspicious debt collection calls to the FTC.

Do you like getting calls from debt collectors?

No one likes getting calls from debt collectors. Owing money to a group of strangers who have all of your personal information can be frightening and stressful. But why do debt collectors call? You typically only receive collection calls when you owe a debt.

What happens when you ignore a debt collector?

It’s a good idea to request debt validation before you pay any debt collection. If ignoring debts made them go away, none of us would ever pay up. Debt collection calls and letters may stop if you ignore a debt long enough, but the debt doesn’t go away. It will continue to be listed on your credit report until the credit reporting time limit is up.

What do you need to know about debt collection?

Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), if you request that a debt collector stop contacting you completely, it must do so (with a few exceptions). Your request must be in writing. Think carefully before you do this.

Can a debt collector threaten you with violence?

Finally, even though debt collectors are often rude and pushy, don’t lose your temper. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 and following) limits what collectors can and can’t do. For instance, this law prohibits debt collectors from using obscene language or threatening you with violence if you don’t pay.