Laura Monro

Bankruptcy Attorney in Tampa: How to Deal with Creditors

If you are on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, you will most likely have creditors calling you that are rude and harassing. These creditors have one job only- to get the money you owe them. And they really do not care if they have to use tactics that are not very nice. A bankruptcy attorney in Tampa will tell you that you can deal with them using these tips.

First off, you must recognize the unfair practices that these creditors may be using. You have a right to be protected and treated fairly. Fortunately for you, a government agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has come up with a list of practices that are not fair to individuals that the creditors may be targeting. These practices include any one of the following:

Making repeated harassing calls

Indicating they are a debt collection agency in any way

Making threats saying you will be arrested

Using any language that is abusive or obscene

Talking about your debt with others other than you or the attorney you appointed

Claiming they are an attorney

Depositing checks that are post-dated by you

Collecting charges prohibited by law

If you have been a victim of the above, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the creditor in which case they can also pay for your attorney fees.

If a creditor has contacted you, there are some things that you can do to deal with them. First, you must get things in writing. By law, a creditor must send out a statement within five days of a call to follow up with you on the call.

Next, be sure to look at the amounts that the creditors are charging you. If you feel that these amounts are not correct, you need to question them. Bankruptcy attorneys in Tampa say that many times the amounts are not correct. You can question them by filing a dispute with the collection agency. This must be done in writing. Be sure to keep a record of this as well.

Speaking of records, you should keep a log of when they call you. Be sure to include the date and time of when they called, as well as who you were speaking to. You will also want to include notes on what was discussed during this phone call.

If you are still uncertain about how to handle your debts, consider calling a bankruptcy attorney in Tampa. They will be able to handle the creditors for you and work out a solution that is favorable to you.