A debt collector gets most of the details, including your phone number, name, address, etc., from a creditor. They might run an operation to find your legitimate contact information if it is wrong. A debt collector mostly calls you and asks you various questions which you will have to answer. However, do not provide more information than necessary as it can get you into trouble. If the debt collector is certified, they will not hesitate to reveal their sources.
If you have missed a payment or so, the debt collector will likely call you. Before dealing with them, contact a debt defense attorney Chicago as soon as possible. You can also use ways from your end to deal with the debt collector.
Tips for dealing with a debt collector
-
Never neglect them
A debt collector is persistent and will not stop contacting until the debt is paid. So ignoring them will only impact your case negatively and result in your report. Moreover, ignoring a debt collector will also harm your future credit score.
So when a debt collector tries to contact you, it is better to co-operate with them and solve the matter as soon as possible.
-
Take out information bout the debt.
Never directly confess that the debt is yours. First, try to get information about the debt from the debt collector and then decide how t deal with it. As they about the original creditor and who is he, the actual debt amount, and how much you owe.
This is to verify whether the debt collector is legitimate or not. The more information they offer you, the better you can understand your case. Remember to ask them about the statute of limitations because if that is expired, the debt collector has no right to sue you for reviving the debt.
You should not priorly admit the debt is yours because if you do, you may have to clear your old debts that were not needed. So never admit it, even if you know it is your debt.
-
Ask for written proof.
A legitimate debt collector must provide you with a written letter in your mail. The letter must contain all the details about your debt, like information about the original creditor and the debt you owe.
Moreover, an additional piece of information that can be of importance to you is the method to defend or fight the debt charged upon you, in case the debt is not yours.