In the first two articles I wrote about what a collections account was, how sending delinquent accounts out to an agency profits a creditor, and the act of a third party collection agency buying old debt from a creditor.
I described what sort of data a collection company will collect and use in their efforts, and also that third party collection agencies are governed by federal and state laws and are overseen by the FTC.
Some collection agencies will use illegal, deceptive and strong arm tactics to confuse and scare debtors that include pretending that they are one of their creditors and asking them to verify information, pretending to be an old friend or neighbor to catch a debtor off guard, repetitively calling or mailing a debtor to the point where it gets to be a nuisance, or sending threatening letters or leaving threatening voicemail messages.
Legal but manipulative practices include pressing the debtor, preying on their emotions, and using vague threats like "respond within ten days or further collections attempts will follow." Other illegal methods include idly threatening lawsuits or pursuing lawsuits when the collection agent has no intention to, threatening to throw a debtor in jail, threatening to garnish wages or seize bank accounts when they have no authority to, lying about the amount that is owed, or asking for more than what is owed are used as well.
For the bill collection industry, time is the enemy and an excellent collection agent is fully aware of this fact. Their goal is specifically to obtain money as soon as possible.If you are talking to a debt collector, keep in mind that at any time you have the legal right to tell them you are busy and will call them back if you are flustered, hang up, cool off, develop a game plan, and contact them later. An aggressive debt collector will ask you why you can't make payment arrangements today.
I described what sort of data a collection company will collect and use in their efforts, and also that third party collection agencies are governed by federal and state laws and are overseen by the FTC.
Some collection agencies will use illegal, deceptive and strong arm tactics to confuse and scare debtors that include pretending that they are one of their creditors and asking them to verify information, pretending to be an old friend or neighbor to catch a debtor off guard, repetitively calling or mailing a debtor to the point where it gets to be a nuisance, or sending threatening letters or leaving threatening voicemail messages.
Legal but manipulative practices include pressing the debtor, preying on their emotions, and using vague threats like "respond within ten days or further collections attempts will follow." Other illegal methods include idly threatening lawsuits or pursuing lawsuits when the collection agent has no intention to, threatening to throw a debtor in jail, threatening to garnish wages or seize bank accounts when they have no authority to, lying about the amount that is owed, or asking for more than what is owed are used as well.
For the bill collection industry, time is the enemy and an excellent collection agent is fully aware of this fact. Their goal is specifically to obtain money as soon as possible.If you are talking to a debt collector, keep in mind that at any time you have the legal right to tell them you are busy and will call them back if you are flustered, hang up, cool off, develop a game plan, and contact them later. An aggressive debt collector will ask you why you can't make payment arrangements today.
About the Author:
Rapid Recovery Solution is a commercial collection agency that writes articles on medical collection companies. This article, Legal And Illegal Tactics A Debt Collector Will Use: Debt Collection Basics Part Three is available for free reprint.
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