How to Deal With Debt Collections
For many people that have lost jobs in this recession, and haven't been able to find new work right away, dealing with debt collections becomes a fact of life. They will call and email and send countless letters in pursuit of their money, so the question is what is the best way to deal with this unfortunate situation? First, it's important to realize that while debt collectors may threaten you with all sorts of legal action, you cannot actually be put in jail for failure to pay a debt.
Furthermore, if a debt collector threatens you with imprisonment they are breaking the law. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to be specific, protects consumers from harassment by collectors. They cannot garnish your wages or take your home or possessions without a court judgement (except in the case of federally guaranteed student loans).