- 1). Take notes during calls from debt collectors. If litigation is filed by you or the creditor, your notes of collection activities may be important in a lawsuit. Include the date and time of the calls, the name of the debt collector and what you and the caller said.
- 2). Ask for the debt collector to mail you copies of documentation showing validity of the debt. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires bill collectors to provide this documentation to you free upon request.
- 3). Collect all invoices, bills, cancelled checks and bank statements related to any purchases or payments from or to the creditor. Stores, banks and credit card companies may be attempting to collect on an erroneous debt or on a debt that you already paid in full.
- 1). Refrain from saying more than necessary to a debt collector because any information gathered may be used for litigation to collect the debt. Only say as much as required to ask the debt collector for his name, company, address, telephone and for written documentation of the debt.
- 2). Inform the debt collector that you do not consent to having any telephone conversations recorded. Some states require both parties to actively consent to having a conversation recorded.
- 3). Tell the debt collector that you do not want any further telephonic communications from it. By law the debt collector must adhere to your instruction. Additionally, the collector may not call you earlier than 9:00 a.m. and no later than 8:00 p.m. your time; it may not call you at your place of work unless you consent; and it may not contact you if you are represented by a lawyer regarding the debt.
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