If there is one thing that elderly Americans do not deserve, it is to deal with terrible instances of debt at this stage of their lives. After all, it is called the “golden years” for a reason. This time of a person’s life is supposed to be relaxing and joyous, even if the person chooses to work.
Nevertheless, the reality of crushing debt can be horrible. It is one thing to owe a great deal of money, it is quite another to be badgered about it. Let’s face it, bill collectors can be brutal, and it is not uncommon for them to use illegal tactics to separate vulnerable adults from their money. Because of this, we dedicate this post to identifying a number of improper things that bill collectors do, but will never tell you.
We will stop calling if you tell us to – If you write a letter to a collector asking them to stop calling you, the law requires them to comply. A violation can lead to stiff penalties against them.
We can’t call your family or friends – When we say this is a “personal matter” this means that other people can’t know that we are calling about your debt.
We can’t use profanity or abusive language – Indeed, we can use the “prohibited seven words,” angry outbursts or racial slurs to try to get you to pay your bill.
We can’t call in the middle of the night – Federal law prohibits us from calling after 9:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m.