You can't do that

As unfortunate as it is, many of us will find ourselves with debt that has built up to an unmanageable level. It happens. Sometimes it happens because of unrestrained spending. However, it can also come about due to an illness, a layoff, the need to take care of a loved one, or any one of many variables that can cause our expenses to soar, while our income dwindles.

Our debts are our responsibility. And while the most of us will do our very best to dig our way out of debt in a responsible manner – that effort will not necessarily shield us from phone calls that put us in direct contact with debt collectors.

There is nothing enjoyable or noble about being deeply in debt. But that doesn't mean you deserve to be yelled at, annoyed, embarrassed, or lied to in order for that debt to be collected. In fact, residents of Connecticut should never have to suffer that sort of behavior from a bill collector. Partly because it's bad manners and bad business to resort to a screaming match with a teary-eyed widow who is doing her very best to make minimum payments that are simply beyond her means. But mostly because it is against the law. It's true. You may have heard a lot of rumors and murmurings about what bill collectors can and can't do in the process of trying to collect a debt. Well the truth is, the law is very clear on what they cannot do.

What the law says is this; “No creditor shall use any abusive, harassing, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading representation, device, or practice to collect or attempt to collect any debt.”

Thankfully, this particular passage of Connecticut law can be understood with reasonable clarity even if you don't have an advanced degree from Yale. It basically says that debt collectors can't call you on the phone and scream at you, or insult you, in an attempt to shame you into paying a debt. They can't pretend they are somebody other than a debt collector to wheedle information out of you, or your family members. And they can't lie to you about what will happen if you don't whip out your checkbook and pay your debt in part, or in full, right now.

In these difficult times it's worth knowing for sure that the law really does work for you. In fact, its whole purpose is to protect us from abuse or harm. So the next time you're worried, or a rumor floating around the office or the production floor gives you real concern about what you should, or could do about a debt problem – don't fret. Find out what your rights are, for real. Then work up a plan of action based on solid information.

Knowing what the rules are can make all the difference when we're under stress, and in debt. I hope this little bit of insight helps you, even though I hope you'll never need to put it into use in your own life.