To Eliminate Credit Card Debt Do Not Answer When a Credit Card Debt Collector Calls

Posted by Matthew Highlander

January 29, 2010

There is little legal weight to what someone says over the telephone. The caller can say what they like with impunity. And that is why debt collectors use the telephone as their main weapon. When exchanges with consumers are done in writing, debt collectors lose their effectiveness and consumers begin to eliminate credit card debt.

What matters in court are the written communications, or the lack of them, between a consumer and a credit card debt collector. Mail sent certified return receipt requested further helps the consumer eliminate credit card debt by putting the debt collector on the defensive.

There is a saying in online consumer forums, 100 percent of debt collectors tell lies 100 percent of the time. Here are some examples of those lies.

1. They claim you are the target of a lawsuit in your local court and that you’ll get your summons any day.

2. They threaten to have you arrested. (Debts are civil, not criminal.)

3. Debt collectors will threaten to have you arrested. No one can be arrested for a civil matter.

4. They threaten to have your wages garnished.

5. They tell you they can seize your bank account.

Each of these lies is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

On the phone, credit card debt collectors attempt to get you to admit to the debt, confirm the debt’s credit card number and share personal information like your Social Security number, your work place phone number, and your bank account information. According to the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide, at this point to eliminate credit card debt you should deny and dispute the debt (whether or not it is yours), tell them they are just a voice on the other end of the line. They could be anyone, and you do not share your personal financial information with strangers. Then hang up.

If you get stuck on the telephone with a debt collector, get them to tell you which debt they are calling about, tell them that you need written notice of it from them, and hang up.

You should be aware that as a consumer the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you the right to write to the debt collector to instruct them to stop telephoning you. If they continue, they are breaking the law and are liable to a $1000 penalty for each call made. Consumers are advised to log each phone call to interest a specialist consumer rights attorney in suing the debt collector on a contingency fee basis.

Matt Highlander writes for the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide. If you want to eliminate credit card debt, read about proven strategies for settling debts and handling debt collectors as well as collection attorneys.

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