How to Stop Bill Collectors from Calling My Place of Work

Creditors, such as the bank you have borrowed money from or the department store where you purchased a plasma TV on credit, may sell your account to a collection agency if they decide that you are unlikely to pay your bills without legal action. Once the sale is complete, the collection agency assumes the legal right to receive all debt payments, as well as late fees and, depending on the circumstances, legal costs. Collection agencies have a variety of tools at their disposal, but may not use harassment tactics. You have numerous ways to stop harassment by collection agencies.

Instructions

1

Present a payment plan to the collection agency. A collection agency can no longer contact you if you agree to, and stick to, a payment plan. The collector has no obligation to agree to anything other than payment in full, but many agencies accept reasonable monthly payment plans if they are convinced that what you are offering is the best they can get.

2

Contact a lawyer to represent you against the debt collection agency. If your payment plan is refused or you believe the charges are unjust, it is best to seek the help of a legal representative. Once you find a lawyer to represent you and inform the collection agency of this decision, the collector must only contact your legal representative and can no longer call your residence or workplace.

3

Ask your employer to inform the collection agency that it is not allowed to contact you at work. The Federal Trade Commission states that a debt collector cannot contact your place of employment if it has been informed that your employer prohibits such communication. If your employer has documented this policy, you can also send such things as an official memo or a copy of the corporate handbook to the collection agency. This tactic stops the phone calls at work but does nothing to resolve the matter.