How Do I Get Credit Card Companies and Debt Collectors to Stop Harassing Me? Part 2

"How do I get credit card companies and debt collectors to stop harassing me?", is one of the most searched topics here at The Debt Free Advocate. The excessive calls are down rate embarrassing at work and at home. In Part 1 we covered the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Here's a quick recap of what we learned:

-No matter how friendly and understanding the person on the phone sounds, they are doing their job and they just want to get money from you.

-If you end up working out a settlement with the collection agency, get everything in writing before paying.

-Do not share your other phone numbers or other ways the collection agency can reach you. The call will just increase and you can be embarrassed even more if someone else gets the call.

-Treat the call as business call. Do not get emotional or caught up in the situation.

-Tell collection agents not to call you if you do not wish to receive these calls.

-If you take calls be sure to keep a journal of all conversations.

-Negotiate lower payments and interest rates first before discussing a settlement.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) deals with credit reports and credit reporting agencies, such as Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. Consumers are entitled to receive a free copy of their credit report every year.

A credit report can also be requested within sixty days of the receipt of the denial of credit or unemployment. The FCRA also provides that if you find an error or incorrect information on your credit report, you can inform the reporting agency, and the agency must re investigate the matter at no charge to you. You must receive a response from the agency within thirty days. The information must be corrected or deleted if it is incorrect. (FCRA, Sec. 1681(i).)

Credit reporting agencies are required to include a record of all inquiries about received in the last six months on our credit report. They must also include a listing of all the people who have purchased your report within the last two years for employment purposes and within the last year for other reasons. (FCRA, Sec. 1681(g).)

Credit reporting agencies are not required to disclose your credit scores or credit risk rating. This is an internal evaluation the reporting agency makes about your creditworthiness. It is like a grade for your credit history, and is furnished to employers and creditors. many credit reporting agencies do release this information, but they are not required to do so by law. (FCRA, Sec. 1681(g).)

Check out the complete FCRA at http://ftc.gov/