Don't make a bad debt collector out of a good one!

Just like good customer service and poor customer service, you have good and bad debt collectors. The good ones will work with you in order to get the debt paid. The bad ones on the other hand, they'll become abusive and break the law in order to get paid.

Speaking as an experienced debt collector (a good one!), nobody likes to be tricked or lied to, especially someone who is looking for ways to help you through a hard time. If you say that you're going to do something, then do it. Or, if something happens that makes it so you can't do what you say you're going to, then let the debt collector know.

"Most people are not aware of their rights.
And unfortunately debt collectors take advantage of that fact,"

Don't tell a lie just to get the debt collector off the phone. The debt isn't going to go away and neither is the debt collector. It is time to come to terms with the debt, own up to it, and deal with it.

What if you're one of the unfortunate ones that get a bad debt collector who is nasty, abusive, and, doesn't care about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act? First, know your rights! You need to know what the debt collector can and cannot say and do. Knowing your rights is your primary defense against unfair debt collection practices.

This article called "Rogue Debt Collectors--How to Fight Them" by Jen Haley, explains some of your rights and shares some ideas on ways of dealing with the rogue debt collector.