Sunday, July 27, 2008

Collection Harassment And Consumer Rights

Very few people ever get into debt with the intention that they will not pay it off. Unfortunately, life can deal us all some tricky hands, and oftentimes it is just too difficult to see this obligation through. While it may not be your fault that you are suddenly unable to pay your debt, that won't stop the creditor harassment from coming. If you are the victim of credit harassment, it is important to know your rights under the law so you can handle the situation appropriately, snd speak with an advocate of Consumer Rights in GA .

The first step in the process is to not be intimidated by collection harassment. You have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and if you are unsure of exactly what those rights might be, you can always report the creditor to an experienced attorney. In Georgia, a leading advocate for consumer rights is the law firm of Persily & Associates Georgia Consumer Rights, like the team at http://www.persilylaw.com, who can explain those rights to you and provide the necessary methods to protect yourself. If you do not live in Georgia, Persily & Associates Atlanta Lawyers may be able to help you find a collection harassment lawyer in your state.

There are also a few simple steps that you can take yourself to ensure that your rights are protected and that creditor harassment ends.

The first step in fighting collection harassment is to make copies of all correspondence, including envelopes that show postmarks. Before you contact a consumer rights lawyer to protect creditor harassment, the more complete your records, the more likely you will be to win your case. Make sure to document all phone conversations with the company as well, and write down any potential creditor harassment that takes place during those calls. These might include threats of imprisonment or garnishment of wages, profane or obscene language, or other types of abusive behavior. An attorney can advise you on additional procedures that may be appropriate, such as keeping recordings of your conversations.

Finally, don't let creditor harassment push you into doing something you are uncomfortable with. Some creditors will try to persuade you to pay your debt using a post dated check or automatic withdrawals from your account. Others collection agencies may try to dictate the amount of the payments and the intervals in which they must be paid. Keep in mind that you are the one who decides how much and when to pay your debts, no matter how much creditor harassment is occurring on the other end. If the payments are more than you can afford, talk to your consumer rights attorney about setting up smaller payments that will be comfortable for your budget.

Creditor harassment can sap your energy and create stress and strain in your life. The good news is that it doesn't have to. When you know your rights and have an experienced Georgia attorney on your side, you can stop creditor harassment and go back to the task of living your life.

About the Author

Sandy Pensner is experienced in the area of collection harassment, and has been working in Atlanta, Georgia for consumer rights for a number of years. She consults with the law firm of Persily & Associates, a leading advocate of Consumer Rights in GA

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