Broadly, the term "Collections" refers to the practice of creditors trying to force debtors to pay what they owe. There are many laws and regulations in West View, Pennsylvania that govern collection agencies, and strictly limit the types of tactics they are allowed to engage in.

What if I Am Owed Money in West View, Pennsylvania?

If you are owed money and the debtor refuses to pay, you have some options at your disposal. However, you must tread lightly when it comes to collecting your debts. Creditors and collectors are governed by specific consumer protection laws. Violating these laws can hurt your chances of recovering what you are owed, and even subject you to civil or criminal penalties.

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

What you can do, however, is send an invoice of the debt to the debtor, along with a firm (but civil) demand for timely payment. If the debt is significant, you might also want to hire a collection agency in West View, Pennsylvania. You should make sure that any agency you hire is reputable, and has not been cited for violations of the rules governing collections.

What if Someone Is Trying to Collect Money Against Me in West View, Pennsylvania?

If you actually owe the money being sought, and you are able to pay it, you should of course do so. If the collection caller is behaving amicably, you should do the same. Even if the caller doesn't behave in an amicable manner, you should resist the urge to respond in kind, and ask to speak with a supervisor, or simply end the conversation. Whatever you do, you should never ignore the issue. This will not make the problem go away.

Your best option in West View, Pennsylvania 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 usually 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 generally leaves them with no other option but to sue.

If you have hired a lawyer in West View, Pennsylvania, they might advise that you apply for bankruptcy. Of course, whether or not this is a good idea depends strongly on the facts of your particular case, so you should not do so unless an attorney has reviewed the facts and determined that bankruptcy is a viable solution.

How Can a West View, Pennsylvania Collections Attorney Help?

If you believe that the collections agency is engaging in unlawful or abusive activity, you should consult with a local attorney in West View, Pennsylvania, as you may actually have a claim for damages against the collection agency.

Also, if you're considering applying for bankruptcy, a seasoned attorney in Pennsylvania can tell you if this is a good option, and, if it is, help you through the process.