How to Deal With Credit Card Collectors

Receiving a call from a credit card collector can prove to be intimidating. The collector may threaten a lawsuit if you don't pay your debt or continue to call you at your home, work and cell until he receives his money. Credit card collectors can be difficult to deal with, especially because they are often motivated by incentives from their respective companies. However, remain calm when dealing with credit card collectors in order to avoid ugly blowups.

Instructions

1

Try to make fair payment arrangements with the credit card collector. See if they will be willing to offer a payment plan or reduced interest rate. Request that any offers be verified by letter.

2

Request that a letter be sent to you with the debt information. The law requires that a credit card collector must provide you with written documentation that states amount owed, name of the credit card company and the expected action it plans to take against you if the debt is not settled.

3

Hire an attorney. If you have retained an attorney to handle a dispute with a credit card collection company, you can give this information to the collector. The collector will then need to go through the attorney instead of contacting you directly.

4

Send a certified letter to the credit card collector that requests he stop harassing you if you receive repeated calls and letters. Once received, the collector is required by law to stop contacting you unless it is to take a specific legal action.

5

Report any abuse to the Federal Trade Commission. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act protects the consumer from credit card collectors that threaten, harass or mislead the debtor. You may be able to sue the credit card collector if you can prove that the company violated this act.