STOP! Don't make these mistakes dealing with collectors!  

Dealing with debt collectors rarely is a pleasant activity. They call you up at all hours of the night, send you nasty letters and make your life a living nightmare. Bad as it may seem, you can only make it worse by making one or more of these mistakes:

1. Lying: If you lie and you're caught in the lie, you can be sued.

2. Paying without receiving a confirmation letter: If you pay the debt, make sure you get confirmation that the account is closed. Also, check your credit report two months later to see that the line on your credit report shows "closed" or "settled" or "paid as agreed."

3. Failing to dispute a charge in a timely matter: If you believe you have been wronged, you must file the proper claim as soon as possible. The statute of limitations is very specific depending on your state; if you wait too long, you could lose your legal right to dispute the claim.

4. Ignoring the situation: If the collection agency has a legitimate claim against you, especially if it knows you have a job, things can only get worse, not better. Talk to an experienced Solutions Specialist to start investigating your options.

5. Bouncing checks: This will get your case sent immediately to the creditor's legal department.

6. Becoming intimidated: In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Don't let the collection person bully you around. The FDCPA states very clearly what a debt collector can and cannot do.

7. Letting the creditor or collector deduct money directly from your bank account: Never give the creditor your checking account number.

8. Making promises you cannot keep: Sometimes you will be tempted to just say, "The check is in the mail." But when the check doesn't arrive, they'll call even more frequently. They may even try to sue you for lying.

9. Avoiding the calls: They will only occur more frequently. You can stop the calls by taking a few simple steps.  

photo by: Qfamily