Most people who have owed a debt or have been late with a bill payment know the feeling of being harassed by phone calls and letters. Bill collectors have a large stake in trying to convince delinquent borrowers, credit card holders and even those late with utility bill payments to pony up money. The first thing you should do is become familiar with laws that regulate bill collector practices, including Federal Trade Commission guidelines. But if collectors continue to hound you after you've pointed out the error of their ways, there are options.
Collection Agency
Contact the collection agency directly. Assuming you've already asked the company (politely, of course) to stop contacting you, you may need to send a letter to the collection agency requesting that they cease all communications. In the letter, make sure to include any violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that you feel are being violated. Describe the violations in detail. Request that the collector cease all communication regarding the account, and include the account number and creditor name. There are sample letters available online.
FTC
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act comes under the auspices of the FTC and is very precise and detailed about what actions credit agencies and bill collectors can take, and which behaviors constitute harassment. The Act is a statute added in 1978, as Title VIII, to the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Act applies to personal debts and family and household debts, such as those incurred through the purchase of a car, medical bills, retail financing, mortgages and credit card account debts. The statute applies to both disputed and legitimate debts. There are limits on collectors' actions, when they may contact you, how they may contact you, and who they can contact. If you feel that you're being hounded in violation of any Fair Dent Collection Practices Act provision, contact the FTC. (See resources).
State Attorney General
Most states have their own collection laws similar to those of the FTC. Contact your state's attorney general even before contacting the FTC, or visit the attorney general web site to bone up on your state's laws concerning collectors
Better Business Bureau
Contact your state's Better Business Bureau. The company that's hounding you may have been reported by other consumers or may be in poor standing with the BBB. If nothing else, a volume of complaints against a particular company may spur the BBB to take action and possibly put the company out of business.
Phone Company
Depending on your local phone company, you may be able to place a block on your phone for incoming calls from certain phone numbers, including bill collectors. Of course, you should by all means contact the phone company if the credit agency is violating any FTC regulations, as well as contacting the state attorney general and/or the FTC.
Attorney
Sometimes having an attorney simply repeat the steps you've already taken---such as making a phone call or sending a letter to a collection agency---can have the desired effect. A letter that's written on a lawyer's stationary may do the trick where your own letter didn't.
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