How to Deal with Creditors in Philadelphia, PA

If you have to deal with harassing creditors in Pennsylvania, do not face them without knowing the best way to deal with their tactics. Every consumer has rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as well as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Each of these laws gives you insight into how you can deal with a creditor, especially when they are harassing or abusing you as a consumer. Here are a few tips from a Pennsylvania debt collection defense lawyer on how to deal with creditors:

Stay Calm

Creditors can become more and more aggressive the longer it takes you to repay your defaulted payments. They may try to intimidate you or confuse you, making it easier for them to manipulate you. By remaining calm and conversing with them in a rational manner, you have a much higher chance of obtaining the results you need.

Know Your Rights

This is arguably the most important factor when dealing with creditors. Unless you know your rights as a consumer, you have no way of knowing whether or not they are walking all over you. They must treat you in a certain way and can only take certain measures when collecting debts owed. Make sure you know their limitations so that you can protect your rights when they are or are about to be violated.

Negotiate with Your Creditor

In most cases, a consumer can negotiate directly with their lender to obtain some level of leniency. They may even be able to consolidate their debts or modify their loan so that their payments are more affordable, allowing them to repay their defaulted payments. Many individuals are unaware of this option, however, and continue defaulting on their payments until the problem gets out of hand.

Check Your Bills

You would be surprised how many consumers fail to notice issues with their bills. If you are struggling to make your payments, check your bills to make sure that all of your debt is truly yours. That way you can work to resolve any issues and prevent serious damage to your credit score for debts that you don't even owe.

Hire an Attorney in Pennsylvania

The offices of Michael P. Forbes, PC can provide the quality counsel and aggressive representation you need to deal with harassing creditors. I am a seasoned debt collection lawyer with more than two decades of experience and have handled issues ranging from FDCPA violations to foreclosure defense.