Knowing that you owe a business money is a stressful situation. You know you’re going to have collection attempts, including phone calls, text messages and written communication. You may even have to deal with them trying to contact you at work or calling your...
How many times per day can a creditor call a debtor?
Creditors and collection specialists have an interest in getting people to pay what they owe. They send letters, take legal action and make phone calls to collect payment for outstanding debts. Frequently, the phone calls that they make are especially stressful for...
How can consumers spot robocalls from a debt collection agency?
More and more debt collection agencies are leveraging automated robocalls to make debt collection efforts. This has made it increasingly challenging for individuals to differentiate between legitimate calls and unsolicited (and, quite often illegal) ones. Many people...
What you need to know about Minnesota’s Debt Fairness Act
Recovering from a serious illness and long hospital stay can be challenging enough without a hefty medical bill waiting at the end of it. For most people, this bill is nearly impossible to pay all at once. This debt can come with a range of consequences, from...
Are debt collectors legally able to pursue a discharged debt?
The personal bankruptcy process is complex. People spend months, if not years, trying to regain control over their finances. They may have to liquidate some of their property or maintain a strict household budget as they complete a multi-year repayment plan. The...
How are creditors allowed to contact you?
If you owe an outstanding debt, it’s natural that creditors are going to try to contact you to collect. In some cases, consumers are unaware of the debt that they owe, so simple contact is all that is needed. In other cases, creditors may have been trying to collect...
Are you being harassed for a bill you already paid?
It's easy to overlook paying a bill. You likely receive your bills via mail and email and the ones automatically withdrawn from your bank account. So, when you receive notification from a debt collector about a bill you've already paid, you start to question...
When are calls at work creditor harassment?
Collection agents and creditors often use telecommunications to collect the money owed to them. Calling a person who owes money can remind them that they have fallen behind and may inspire them to rework their budget. Creditors must comply with rules restricting...
4 considerations before sharing information with a debt collector
Receiving a call or other notice of a collection attempt from a debt collector can be a difficult experience. As a result, some people may be tempted to give a debt collector whatever information they want so they can be done with them. If you’re going through this...
What are zombie debts?
Did you know what debts can expire? Under Minnesota’s laws, most consumer debt has a statute of limitations of just six years. That means that creditors cannot sue you for the debt unless they take action within six years from the last time an account was used or a...