How to Stop Debt Collector Calls


Today, we’re going to talk about how to get debt collectors to stop calling you. Hi, I’m Mike Ziegler, Managing Attorney for The Debt Fighters. We’re a Florida law firm focusing on helping consumers strategically eliminate serious debt. So there are a few different approaches here. First, let’s start with an educational point. You are not under an obligation to pick up a call from a debt collector. Just because you owe a balance, it doesn’t mean that you have to pick up the phone. What generally happens is, particularly when an account first starts falling behind, the collection company or the credit card companies, can be very aggressive, particularly initially, trying to collect on the balance. They know in their mind that is their best opportunity to get you to pay.

So there’s a few different things that you can do to get them to stop. First, recognize that federal law provides you protections. First, protections with respect to your cell phone, where you can ask a company to stop calling your cell phone using an automatic telephone dialing system. And they’re required to honor that request.

Second, under the different federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you can send a letter asking companies to cease communication. This is under 1692C of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It’s called a Cease Letter. So you can send that letter, which I encourage you to send with certified mail with return receipt and keeping a copy of the letter. If your rights are violated in those respects, you may be entitled to compensation.

Some additional tips. You could always get an app for your cell phone that may help you to identify spam callers and to block those calls. But I would say for each of those calls that you are taking from a collection companies, I encourage you to keep a log and to make notes. Because if those calls are over aggressive, or if they’ve overstepped their boundaries by attempting to contact you, after you have asked them to stop, then you may be entitled to compensation for that.

If you’d like to learn a little bit more about your rights if you think that collection companies have overstepped your boundaries, I encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation. One of our qualified attorneys will evaluate your situation for you.

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