{"id":1097,"date":"2022-02-17T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T09:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/?p=1097"},"modified":"2023-11-10T10:27:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T10:27:33","slug":"can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Debt Collectors Trash Talk Me?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1099 size-full\" title=\"debt collectors do to you\" src=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/debt-collectors-do-to-you.jpg\" alt=\"debt collectors do to you\" width=\"626\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/debt-collectors-do-to-you.jpg 626w, https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/debt-collectors-do-to-you-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you go through hard times financially, it&#8217;s easy to fall behind on your bills. But falling behind and being unable to pay a debt doesn&#8217;t mean that collection agencies can treat you any way they like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too often, debt collectors overstep their legal rights and responsibilities when collecting debts from consumers. So before a debt collector sues you, it&#8217;s a good idea to seek legal advice from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debt defense attorneys<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. At Northwest Debt Defense, our <a href=\"\/tacoma-wa-debt-defense-attorneys\/\">Tacoma debt defense attorney<\/a>, Washington debt lawyers help clients threatened with a debt lawsuit to realize that they can take the upper hand when dealing with debt collectors. We also help clients in Seattle and Vancouver while our Oregon <a href=\"\/personal-loans\/\">debt defense attorneys<\/a> assist clients in Portland, Salem, and Medford.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article describes some of the abuses that take place and answers the question, \u201cWhat can debt collectors do to you? We will also give you a heads up on what debt collectors are not legally allowed to do and how best you can respond to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Debt_Collector\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a Debt Collector?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66284aac3ba8c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66284aac3ba8c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#What_is_a_Debt_Collector\" title=\"What is a Debt Collector?\">What is a Debt Collector?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#Debt_Collectors_Explained\" title=\"Debt Collectors Explained\">Debt Collectors Explained<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#What_can_debt_collectors_do_to_you\" title=\"What can debt collectors do to you?\">What can debt collectors do to you?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#What_cant_debt_collectors_do\" title=\"What can&#8217;t debt collectors do?\">What can&#8217;t debt collectors do?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#Dealing_with_a_Debt_Collector\" title=\"Dealing with a Debt Collector\">Dealing with a Debt Collector<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#If_you_know_you_owe_money_but_cant_pay_it\" title=\"If you know, you owe money but can&#8217;t pay it.\">If you know, you owe money but can&#8217;t pay it.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collectors-trash-talk-me\/#With_Northwest_Debt_Defense_Law_Firm_on_your_side_you_can_sleep_easy_while_we_handle_the_debt_collectors\" title=\"With Northwest Debt Defense Law Firm on your side, you can sleep easy while we handle the debt collectors.\">With Northwest Debt Defense Law Firm on your side, you can sleep easy while we handle the debt collectors.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/what-is-a-debt-collector\/\">debt collector<\/a> is a firm or organization that recovers money owed on past due bills. Many debt collectors work for corporations that have receivables against debtors and they either charge a fee for the service or get a portion of the total debts collected. Some debt collectors are debt purchasers that acquire debt for a portion of its face value and then collect the whole amount.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A collection agency is considered a debt collector.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debt_Collectors_Explained\"><\/span><b>Debt Collectors Explained<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unable to pay back debts or failure to make loan payments on time will have their delinquency reported to the credit bureaus. Their debt will be handed over to a collection agency or debt collector following a default, affecting their credit history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit card debt, phone bills, vehicle loan payments, utility bills, and back taxes are all examples of unpaid invoices that a <a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/can-debt-collector-take-paycheck-money\/\">debt collector<\/a> may be assigned to collect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses find it cheaper to hire a debt collector than to pursue consumers directly. The collector has the resources to locate a debtor who has moved or changed phone numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_debt_collectors_do_to_you\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can debt collectors do to you?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Collect an old debt<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsecured debts, such as credit card debts and medical costs, have a time restriction. You can&#8217;t be sued after a certain date since the debt has &#8220;expired&#8221;. But you still owe it, and debt collecting agencies may pursue it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b> Push you<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt collectors can&#8217;t threaten or deceive you, but they may exert pressure. This pressure may include daily calls, frequent letters, or threats of suing for payment \u2013 as long as they keep within the law.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b> Demand payment for a debt<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a final resort, debt collectors might sue you for payment. Because most debtors fail to appear in court and thereby lose by default, these cases typically end in wage garnishment or bank levies.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b> Sell your debts<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A collector may resell uncollected debt or sell the remaining balance if only partial payment is made. You can expect further collection calls when one collection agency ceases to contact you. If you pay off a debt in full, get it in writing to verify it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b> Negotiate your debts<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt collectors have high-profit margins since they acquire debts for cents on the dollar. This offers them greater bargaining power with consumers. You may be able to negotiate a 25% or 30% reduction in your initial debt. Again, obtain the arrangement in writing, so you have confirmed the loan was paid in full.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_cant_debt_collectors_do\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can&#8217;t debt collectors do?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Threaten arrest<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collection agencies cannot falsely accuse you of a crime or threaten you with arrest if you do not pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The authorities can&#8217;t arrest you or throw you in prison, for starters. Also, not paying a credit card, mortgage, vehicle loan, or medical payment on time does not put you in jail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, if you fail to appear in court for a justifiable reason relating to a debt, the judge may issue an arrest warrant. You might even go to prison for not paying a court fine, taxes, or child support.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b> Shame you publicly<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt collectors cannot publicly embarrass you into paying money you may or may not owe them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can&#8217;t even reach you via postcard. They can&#8217;t name debtors.\u00a0 They also cannot discuss your debt with your spouse or attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt collectors may call third parties to attempt to locate you, but they can only ask for your address, home phone number, and job. They may only contact such people once.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b> Collect debts you don&#8217;t owe<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some debt collectors will use inaccurate information to collect money from you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your initial creditor may have sold your debt to a collection agency, which in turn may have sold it to another collection agency or collection agency. A mistake somewhere along the line might mean the collector contacting you has the wrong facts.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b> Solicit Information<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The collection agency may attempt to collect a debt that has been discharged in bankruptcy or owed by someone with a similar name.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don&#8217;t pay within five days of being contacted, the debt collector must issue you a formal notice outlining your obligations. You may need to prompt them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are unsure if you owe a debt, submit a certified letter with a return receipt to the collector. Avoid taking any responsibility for the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes sample letters to debt collectors to help you avoid saying the wrong thing or revealing too much information.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b> Harass you<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The law prohibits <a href=\"\/what-are-your-options-after-being-sued-for-debt\/\">debt<\/a> collectors from harassing you in certain circumstances. They may not:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Threaten you with violence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use vulgar or indecent language.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call you often<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call you at work until you say no in writing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact you unless you notify the collector in writing to cease or contact only your attorney.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you follow these measures, debt collectors may still contact you: They might get in touch with you to inform you that they will stop calling you or inform you that a lawsuit has been filed against you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn More: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/when-will-a-debt-collector-sue-you\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Will a Debt Collector Sue You?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dealing_with_a_Debt_Collector\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dealing with a Debt Collector<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Be sincere and helpful.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a debt collector reaches you, you must:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be open about your finances, especially debts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Answer calls and emails promptly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept a payment plan if you can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notify the debt collector of any changes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notify the debt collector of every interaction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Document the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date and time of the call<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identity of the debt collector and the firm for which they work<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The way they reached out to you (in person, by phone, letter, email or text)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other matters discussed during the call and who said what\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_you_know_you_owe_money_but_cant_pay_it\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you know, you owe money but can&#8217;t pay it.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Determine your budget.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calculate your income and spending to see what&#8217;s leftover.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b> Offer a payment plan to the debt collector.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact the collector and explain your financial situation or consider your request. They may ask for proof of income. Offer just an amount you can pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The debt collector may:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allow you to repay lesser sums over time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Close the debt if you pay a portion in one go.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wage-earners with no big assets should cancel their debts. If you and the debt collector have come to an arrangement, ask them to document the agreed terms. If they refuse, put it in writing. If they don&#8217;t agree, file a complaint.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b> Stick to the payment plan<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can&#8217;t pay, call the debt collector right away. Explain your situation and propose a fresh plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"With_Northwest_Debt_Defense_Law_Firm_on_your_side_you_can_sleep_easy_while_we_handle_the_debt_collectors\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Northwest Debt Defense Law Firm on your side, you can sleep easy while we handle the debt collectors.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The greatest approach to prevent being victimized by debt collectors is to understand your rights and know your options. Contact one of our reliable attorneys at Northwest Debt Defense Law Firm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know what debt collectors can do to you, is time to take action and get help for a fresh financial start. There is no cause for you to endure the annoying stress of being chased by a debt collector for money that you don&#8217;t have and cannot pay. Call our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">law office <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">today for a free debt analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you go through hard times financially, it&#8217;s easy to fall behind on your bills. But falling behind and being unable to pay a debt doesn&#8217;t mean that collection agencies can treat you any way they like.\u00a0 Too often, debt collectors overstep their legal rights and responsibilities when collecting debts from consumers. So before a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1097"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1608,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097\/revisions\/1608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}