"Collections" is the process by which creditors try to get nonpaying debtors to pay the money they owe. There are a huge number of laws in East Lyme, Connecticut governing the tactics that collection agencies can and cannot do.

What if I Am Owed Money in East Lyme, Connecticut?

If somebody owes you money and is declining to pay, you have many options at your disposal. However, in doing so, you will be governed by very specific consumer protection rules that govern the collection of debts. Violating these rules can hurt your chances at effectively collecting, and might even expose you to civil liability.

The law prevents creditors from engaging in any form of violence against the debtor in an attempt to collect. It further bars them from using abusive language or contacting third parties about the debt owed by the debtor.

You may, however, send a written demand for timely payment. The demand should lay out clearly how much the debtor allegedly owes. If there is a large amount of money involved, it may be worth it to hire an East Lyme, Connecticut collections agency, which will probably take its fee in the form of a percentage of the debt collected. You should do some research on different collections agencies in your area, to make sure the one you hire is dependable, and meticulously follows the law.

What if Someone Is Trying to Collect Money Against Me in East Lyme, Connecticut?

Of course, if you owe money and have the capacity to pay it, you should do so. If the collections caller is behaving courteously, you should do the same. In any case, it is never a good idea to ignore the issue, because that will definitely not make it go away.

Your best option in East Lyme, Connecticut might be to contact the creditor directly, and try to work out some type of new repayment plan. The earlier you do this, the more receptive to your ideas the creditor is likely to be. If this isn't successful, you can demand that the collectors stop contacting you by phone, and they will normally be obliged to do so. Of course, this doesn't make the debt go away, and you should only take this route if you are ready to defend against a lawsuit from your creditors, since demanding that they stop contacting you typically leaves them with no other option but to sue.

If you have hired an East Lyme, Connecticut attorney to help you through this process, he or she may advise that you declare bankruptcy. Once this occurs, creditors are legally barred from trying to collect against the debtor. Of course, this is a major decision, and should not be made lightly.

How Can a East Lyme, Connecticut Collections Attorney Help?

If you believe that a creditor is violating the law in its effort to collect from you, you should get in touch with an East Lyme, Connecticut attorney, since you might really have a claim for damages against the creditor.

If you are thinking about applying for bankruptcy, a seasoned lawyer in Connecticut can help you with that process, too.