How long can  a collection agency harass you?
97119
until you settle the debt
344354
Absolutely not. Most medical facilities are not allowed to refuse treatment to you even if you cannot pay. Though depending on the circumstance, they may be able to refuse to set another appointment until payment is made (i.e. the dentist)\nI imagine that this facility is using this as a sort of "scare tactic" to prevent people from not paying. However, you are entitled to have a certain amount of time to make a payment. If you cannot make the payment in full you are entitled to make a payment arrangement. If you are sending them a reasonable amount of money each month to try an pay off your bills, they cannot even take you to court over the issue. If they harass you for a higher payment which you are unable to make you can accuse them of harassment.\nIt seems like so many companies try to bully people these days. Please know your rights when it comes to your bills. \nYou are protected under the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act. Though these laws apply to collection agencies, I am certain they would also apply to anyone trying to collect a debt, including your hospital.\nCheck out the link below.
195335
By law, the collection agency must "validate" your debt.  That means that, upon written request, they have 30 days to supply you with copies of contracts, bills, receipts, and anything that was used to calculate the amount that you owe.  If they fail to supply this, they must remove your information from the credit bureau, and must stop bothering you.\n\nYou are about to go to war!  Do NOT fight these guys unarmed!  Knowledge of the law is your only weapon, go read the links below and GET ARMED!  \n\nYou got an easy slam dunk case here.\n\nFrom this point on, keep a log of every call you make/receive regarding your debt, and copies of all letters.  You will need this if you wish to prosecute.\n\nUse the sample letter I supplied below on how to write a request to validate letter.  Send it by certified mail to the collection agent.  \n\nAfter 30 days, if they do not respond, send letters to the credit reporting agencies, along with a copy of your validation letter, and demand that they remove any negative report that is in your file.\n\nIf the collection agency does respond back, and the information is not given or incomplete, send them another letter and demand it again, but this time threaten legal action if they place anything on your history.\n\nJust keep the credit bureau's informed of the problem, and if they don't remove the history hire a lawyer and sue under the \nFair Debt Reporting Act.\n\nI'm going to bet that you don't owe a lot on this, right?  Less then $200?  They won't even bother to sue you.  They will send it back to the original creditor.  It's not worth the time of the Collection Agent to sue you for that small an amount.  The only weapon they have is your credit history, and if you follow my instructions will stop that.\n\nGet armed!  Read the links below!
277452
Depends on what that office is sharing with your family members and if the person calling the houses is in fact not a lawyer and advising them that they are.  If they are collecting their own debt then they do not have to follow all the rules of the "Fair Debt Collections Act".  If they gave any info on your debt such as what it is for and the amount that you owe than they can be penalized.  Not sure what you can do but consult a lawyer.  Read up on the Act and you can get more info for yourself.  All the family members and friends have to do is to request that they never call them again and if they do then go futher and send a certified letter advising them to not call that way they have a copy of who signed for the letter and then you know that they recieved it.  Be sure to have them keep a copy in their files.  Then you have more leeway and may be able to have your debt cleared because of harassement.  But if you do owe the debt just call them and make the most minimal pmts.
352334
Take the time to read the link below.  It describes the Fair Debt Collections Act, and the rules that collectors must follow.\n\nIt also says what you need to do to prevent their harrassment.
975925
Keep a log of the date and time when the collector calls.\n\nAfter you read the site listed below, you should send a letter by certified mail to the collector's business address. In that letter, state the following:\n\n"You are to cease and desist all further contacts with me, pursuant to the Fair Credit Debt Collection Act."\n\nYou will be given a receipt for the letter at the Post Office. That with a copy of the letter you wrote will be your proof that you notified the collector, in wrting, that it was in violation of the law.\n\nIf the collector continues after you recive a recipt that they got the letter, You can sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. \n\nIf you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered plus an additional amount up to $1,000. Court costs and attorney's fees can also be recovered. A group of people may also sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector's net worth, whichever is less.\n\nYou must, however send the certified letter to the collector, and see whether they continue to violate the law.If possible, get a recorder for your phone. If the collector calls, you must notify them that you are recording the call for use in a lawsuit against them. State the date and time after you say this.\n\nThey would be extremely foolish to continue calling after that time, or otherwise contacting you, because of he lawsuit threat.
76014
Under the Federal Debt Collection Law, if you send the debt collector a letter insisting that he stop contacting you, he must stop.  The law permits just one more letter informing you what additional steps may be taken. As for recovering the money, a lawsuit generally must be filed within four years of the time you default. \n\nNegative information on your credit report becomes obsolete after seven years and generally may not be reported.
585440
Read the link below.  It discusses what the statute of limitation is, and what the length of time in your state is.  Most states run 4-6 years, but some are more.  So look at the link.\n\nThe very first thing you need to do is send the collection agency a "demand to validate".  This is a demand that they send you proof that you have a legal obligation to pay this debt.  They must send you copies of contracts, bills, receipts, and everything used to calculate what they claim you owe.\n\nInclude in this letter a statement that you do not believe this is your debt, and tell them you expect some proof.  Also remind them that posting unvalidated reports to your credit history is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and they can easily be sued in small claims court for $1000 if they try to do it.\n\nAlso include wording to the effect that they must cease and desist contacting you.\n\nSee the link below for a sample letter you can use.\n\nIf you have not checked it recently, get a copy of your credit report and verify that they have not posted anything on your history.  You can get a free copy by going to http://www.annualcreditreport.com\n\nContact me if you need further advice or encouragement.
273814
A lot of collection agents like to pretend that they have filed a suit against you.  They even go as far as sending you a copy of the actual court papers (not yet filed with the courts) to scare you even more.  \n\nDid you know that it's against federal law for a collection agent to say he's going to sue you and not do it?  \n\nYou need to do two things right now!\n\n1.  Find out when the default on the credit card happened.  This is the actual date you became late on payments, NOT the last transaction that took place.\n\n2.  Go to the first link below.  It explains what the Statute of Limitations on debt is, and lists each state's SOL.  Your debt may be too old, and they can not legally recover it from you.\n\n3.  Read the next link.  It explains the Fair Dept Reporting Act.  In it you will find the part about what Debt collecters can and can't do.  It gives you information on how to file a complaint.\n\n4.  Might be nice to contact a lawyer and see if he's interested in pursuing a nice settlement for you.  Split the cost with him as his incentive.  I know several in my area who do that.\n\nGood Luck
775008
As far as I know, as soon as the payment is past due they can turn you in to collections.  Usually it takes a few months though before they do that, as they will have to give a cut of the monies collected to the collection firm.
825880
I don't believe there is a statute of limitations on debt collection here in Georgia.  If you owe the debt, the collector can try to collect it at any time, even 10 years from now.  However, as far as your credit goes, it now stays on your credit report for 10 years.  I would just tell you to bite the bullet, contact them and just make arrangements to pay it.  Don't let them bully you into paying what you can't afford because then  you'll never pay it at all.  Whatever you think you can afford to pay them, tell them thats what you're going to pay each month.  That way you won't always feel like you're just waiting to be served those papers by the magistrate court.
1150801
If they have already contacted you regarding the money, there is no statute of limitations on collecting.  Howefver, they have three years from the date you filed your return to examine your returns.  Once they have done that, they can take their time.  However, if they beleive you have committed fraud, they can audit EVERY tax return you ever filed.\nIf you owe them, you will have to pay.  Bankruptcy won't help since taxes are excluded from debts that get discharged.  Your best bet is to try to work out some payment plan that you can afford.  If they agree to it, DON'T default or they can demand the entire debt to be paid at once.  FYI, state and local taxing authorities make the IRS seem like kittens so don't mess around.
504988
The best way to get creditors to stop bugging you is to pay your bills.  Your neighbors might thank you, too.\n\n__________ EDIT ________________\n\nI'm confused.  If you don't owe money, why are you worried about the collection agency finding you?  Wouldn't you be GLAD that they FINNALY got a hold of you through your neighbor so that you can clear up any misunderstanding and not have them harm your credit by reporting you as two months delinquent?
839375
What seems to be happening here is,the company you had the actual debt with has not closed the account and it has therefore gained small interest,these files are then sent in bulk for a collection agency to sort out,the amount which has been paid still remains as unpaid when sent to the collection agency,so what you need to do is make contact with the persons,company or who ever the debt originated from and in turn they should inform the collections company,the fact that you say you continue to get them off different companys also backs this,has what is also happening one you explain the situation to one collection company and they then send it back to the originator who then sends it to another collection company,this is because the left arm hasnt got a clue what the right arm is doing and in any case dont worry about it,if seven years have passed you can tell them to take a run and jump
544277
While Icsowesmemoney is mostly correct, and is a professional collector who knows the law, let me correct a few things.\n\nHe implies that if you do not respond to a collection agency within 30 day of the innitial contact, you are considered liable for the debt.  This is incorrect. \n\nThe Fair Debt Collection states "The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer."  \n\nThe purpose of the warning is to give the consumer the right to demand the debt be validated.  During that time, the collector must cease all collection activities.  Failing to respond within 30 days is NOT an admission that you owe the debt, but simply places a bar date on when the collector can begin collection activities.\n\nEven though I apparently don't know the law, and can only "cut and paste", this does seem fairly clear to me.\n\nThe law is also very clear on how long any investigation takes place.  The credit reporting agency has 30 days to respond to a dispute, and either reaffirm the entry or delete it.  I see nothing in the law allowing a "reasonable amount of time" for the creditor to respond.  \n\nOK, now that we have cleared that up...\n\nSUE THEM!\n\nFirst, you need to read and understand the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as it outlines exactly what the dispute procedure is.  If you don't follow it to the letter, you will mess up your court case.\n\nSend all letters by certified mail, so you can prove that they were sent and received.  \n\n1) Send a demand letter to the Credit Reporting Agency (CRA).  Give them any proof you have to dispute your case.  In your case, you claim the listing is about being late?  Send them copies of any bills and checks to prove it.  The CRA has 30 days to "investigate" this charge.  All that means is they will contact the creditor and ask them if the listing is correct.  If the creditor says "yes", the listing is now "verified" and the listing stays.  On to step 2....\n\n2) Send a "Demand for Validation" letter to the creditor.  The creditor has 30 days to respond.  They must send you copies of bills, receipts, contracts, and everything used to calculate your debt.  This will be the evidence they use in court if you sue them, so look it over carefully to see if you still have a case.  If you still think you are right, and they still refuse to remove the listing...see below.\n\n3)  If they don't respond at all, send a copy of the "demand for validation" letter plus another demand to remove the listing to the CRA.  Tell them that the creditor has failed to "validate" the debt.  If the CRA still does not remove the listing, you can now add them to your lawsuit also.\n\n4)  File a small claims suit against these guys.  You will need to investigate how your local small claims court works.  Generally, pay a small fee, serve the process, and go to court.  If you can convince the judge the entry was incorrect, you can collect $1000 from both the creditor and the CRA, plus any damages the judge awards.\n\nYes it works, I'm in the process of doing it right now.  Already have a settlement with one of the parties.\n\nDo your homework, and read the links below.
873525
Well, the law states that creditors can only put a negative mark on your credit file for 7 years. However, they can harass you for your entire life.\n\nIf it was me, I'd bide my time. It's only a couple more years, and no $7.00 debt is worth $500.00!\n\nJust don't give the creditor your new address!
1141308
you can not pay them but they will be sent to collections and they will be harrassing you\nalso you will ruin your credit rating