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How to Handle a Phone Call

How to Handle a Debt Collector Phone Call

It is not uncommon for creditors or debt collectors to engage in abusive or heavy-handed tactics in pursuing the collection of a debt. When it comes to dealing with one of these abusive collectors over the phone, it is best to focus on the things that one shouldn't do, in order to increase one's chances of avoiding further harassment and abuse, or other negative effects.

These "rules of never" include:

  • Never give a debt collector your banking or credit card information. They could take much more than you authorize.
  • Never pay an amount via "checks by phone" as debt collectors could empty your bank account and you would have little recourse.
  • Never agree to do anything based only on a phone call. A legitimate debt collector should be willing to put agreements in writing, which you should be able to review before a payment is made.
  • Never let the debt collector make you feel like you are a bad person because you are refusing to agree to anything until you see it in writing, or refusing to pay with a card over the phone or sending monies via Western Union. You are behaving as an educated and wise consumer when asking to see agreements in writing.
  • Never believe an abusive debt collector when they threaten you with arrest. We don't have debtor's prison in this country.

If you have further questions regarding how to deal with an abusive creditor or collector over the phone, contact Michael P. Forbes, Esquire, a Philadelphia debt collector abusive attorney as soon as possible.

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Contact my offices if you are being harassed by debt collectors, and I will assist you in taking legal action against them in an effort to get the harassment to cease for good.


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