Another useful tool for people who are being hounded by bill collectors is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You have the right to stop a bill collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. It would be best to send the letter by registered mail so you have a record that they have received it. If debt collectors violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, consumers can sue for actual and punitive damages.
