I get it. Money is hard to come by. Times are tough and it's hard to make ends meet. Most people are just a hint of bad luck away (unforeseen medical bills, too much spending, etc.) from being in major financial dire straits. Third party collections are on the rise. Even though you owe the money, you still have rights. Here are a few things to remember:This is not 19th Century Europe-We don't lock people up for unpaid bills (well, the IRS does). Any threat of imprisonment or referral to a law enforcement agency is not based in law. You can ignore these calls.
Garnishment can't happen until a judgment has been entered against you-This will be the source of another blog. Bottom line: Unless you've been served with a summons to appear in court, then failed to appear and been defaulted, your wages cannot be garnished. Exception: Federal Student Loans or tax bills. The Federal government has a different set of guidelines. Protect yourself accordingly. Translation: See a trained legal professional.
You have rights, even as a debtor- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692 et. seq. protects consumers for harassment, abuse and threats at the hands of third party debt collectors.
Call me at 314.932.1066 to discuss your rights.