How to Stop Harassing Phone Calls From Creditors And Collectors

Federal law allows U.S. consumers to stop collection calls from credit card and debt collection companies. However, a verbal request to stop such calls isn't sufficient. Consumers need to submit such requests in writing. It's also important to understand that calls from creditors and collectors don't automatically qualify as harassment. The behavior of creditors and collectors affects whether they're harassing consumers under the terms of debt collection laws.

Instructions

1

Ask the person who contacts you about a debt for his company's phone number and address. Get the account number for the debt he claims you owe, as well as the name of the original creditor if a debt collection agency is contacting you. Tell the collector to send you all of the information about the debt in writing.

2

Write a letter to the collection agency or the creditor that includes your name, address, debt amount and the account number associated with the debt. Ensure that your letter clearly states that you want the debt collection calls to stop. For example, you can write "This letter is to inform your company to immediately stop all debt collection calls associated with the account number included in this letter."

3

Keep a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail to the collection agency or creditor, and have a receipt returned to you after delivery of the letter. Use the correspondence address on the back of your credit card bill when sending a letter to a creditor. Store the certified mail receipt with the copy of your letter because it verifies the date the collector or creditor received your request to stop making collection calls.

4

Be realistic about whether a creditor or collector is actually harassing you with phone calls or annoying you, because harassment on their part is against the law. Document whether calls from a collector or creditor include threats of violence, obscene language or other abusive behavior. Such acts of harassment violate the U.S. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission if a creditor or collector is harassing you under the terms of the act.

5

Think about suing a collector or creditor to stop abusive calls and potentially collect damages based on any harm you prove you suffered because of illegal collection practices. The Federal Trade Commission indicates that consumers can collect as much as $1,000 and their attorney's fees even if they're unable to prove that harassing collection calls harmed them.