Many people face the dreaded news: A collection agency is looking to collect a debt from them. And while most agencies are ethically moral companies willing to work with the debtors, some are nothing more than bullies, using idle threats and intimidating tactics to try to get you to pay up. Although they have the right to try to collect the money you owe, you as a debtor also have your own rights that, if you are not aware of them, make the process of paying much scarier.

The first subject is harassment. Debt collectors are allowed to contact you by both mail and in person. Those methods of contact can be both at home and at your place of work. They may not use threats of violence or harm. This includes us of profane or obscene language. They are not allowed to publish a list of names of people who decide that they don't want to pay their debts. They are not allowed to use continual use of phone calls to annoy someone.