The previous post “Know Your Rights” informed you about the basics of the rights that you are entitled to as a consumer in debt. By now, you have checked out the FTC’s website on all of the nitty-gritty details on debt collection. And hopefully the synapses in your brain started to form, giving you super debt collector fighting strength!
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to walk into the collectors office as they are calling you? Pretty empowering thought, isn’t it? Personally, I would smack them over the head with a telephone, but then again that would probably land me in jail. Therefore, physical violence doesn’t work as you can probably imagine. So, what is another sure-fire way to show a debt collector that you mean business? Inform them that you are informed!
In all reality, someone who can just memorize random facts is unworthy of intellectual respect. On the other hand, someone who can utilize their knowledge and apply it to a real-life situation deserves a gold medal! So, why not use your new knowledge on debt collection law appropriately?
Let’s be honest here: someone who is trying to coerce you will become afraid of you when you fire legislation and law references at them. Remember, they prey on you, the uninformed consumer. But you are no uninformed sheep, no, you are an intellectual powerhouse!
First, create a list of all of the specific laws that protect you from debt collectors. This list can range from the “no harassment” law to the “no calls at work” law. Even include debt collection laws that may not apply to you. Your goal is to make the list extremely long; longer than a page will do just fine.
The next time a debt collector calls you, stop them before they can speak. Ask them to read a list of all of your rights as a consumer in debt. 9 times out of 10, they will either laugh or have no idea what to say, as they themselves are sheep and are completely uneducated with regards to the law.
If they fail to read you your rights, tell them that you are going to read them yourself so that they are clear as to what they can do and say to you. Begin to read your rights, one by one, right off the paper. Do not stop reading your rights, even if they try and interrupt you. Just keep going until they either hang up or you finish. If you have finished and they are sill on the line with you, ask them if you need to clarify anything with them. If not, then tell them that you cannot pay and hang up.
Remember, a debt collector is only worth your time if you can inform them of the law. After that, you have no need to speak to them.