What Is Debt Collection in Charlottesville, Virginia?

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"Collections" refers to the practices engaged in by creditors designed to obtain payment from debtors who are not interested in paying what they owe. In Charlottesville, Virginia, there are numerous laws which specifically limit the practices that collections agencies can engage in.

What if I Am Owed Money in Charlottesville, Virginia?

If someone owes you money and refuses to pay it, you have various options at your disposal. However, when it comes to collecting their debts, creditors are governed by strict consumer protection rules. Violation of these rules while attempting to collect could hurt your chances at successfully recovering your money, and/or subject you to civil penalties.

As an example, when trying to collect, creditors may not use abusive language, contact third parties regarding the debt, or use violence or threats of violence.

You may, however, send a written demand for timely payment which lays out to the debtor precisely how much is owed. If a large amount of money is owed to you, it might be a good idea to hire a collections agency in Charlottesville, Virginia. These agencies usually take their fee in the form of a percentage of the debt collected. You need to research agencies carefully however, and make sure the one you hire does not engage in illegal practices.

What if Someone Is Trying to Collect Money Against Me in Charlottesville, Virginia?

If you truly owe the money that they are trying to collect, and are able to pay it, doing so would be your best option for ending the collections calls. Of course, this is not everybody's situation. When dealing with collectors, you should try to maintain the high ground by behaving in a calm and cordial manner. In any event, you should never ignore the problem, as this usually makes things worse.

Luckily, you have some options in Charlottesville, Virginia. First of all, you should attempt to directly contact the creditor, and see if some adjusted payment plan can be worked out. If this doesn't work, you can ask the collectors to stop contacting you by phone, and they will typically be obliged to do so. Of course, this doesn't make the debt go away, but it might give you some time to collect yourself and prepare a legal defense. Once this happens, the collection agency can only contact you to inform you that it intends to sue you for the debt owed.

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

How Can a Charlottesville, Virginia Collections Attorney Help?

If you believe that a creditor is violating the law in its attempts to collect from you, you should get in touch with a Charlottesville, Virginia attorney, since you might actually have a claim for damages against the creditor.

If you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy, a good lawyer in Virginia can help you with that process, too.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Charlottesville

Charlottesville is an independent city surrounded by Albemarle County. Being an independent city, it is not actually legally part of the county in which it sits. It runs its own affairs, and unlike other cities, the government of the county in which it sits has no jurisdiction over it. It has a population of about 41,000 people.

Charlottesville was named in 2004 as the best place to live in the United States, in the book Cities Ranked and Rated, due in part to its high quality of life, low cost of living, and mild climate.

The city of Charlottesville is steeped in history. It was the home of presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. It is home to the University of Virginia, which was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. Along with Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's estate), the university is an UNESCO World Heritage Site - having been recognized by the United Nations as a place of special historical significance to all of mankind. It is the only university in the U.S., and one of the only manmade structures in the U.S., to be designated a World Heritage Site.

The University of Virginia has one of the best law schools in the country, so you don't need to worry about finding a good Charlottesville, Virginia lawyer, if you ever need one. Charlottesville lawyers are ready to take just about any case that you're likely to face.