"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 Outagamie County, Wisconsin, there are many laws which strictly limit the practices that collections agencies can engage in.

What if I Am Owed Money in Outagamie County, Wisconsin?

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 strict consumer protection rules. Violating these rules can hurt your chances of recovering what you are owed, and even subject you to civil or criminal penalties.

For example, when attempting to collect, creditors are not allowed to use abusive language, contact any third party about the debt, and of course they are not allowed to use threats of violence in an attempt to get their money.

One thing you are allowed to do is send a written demand for immediate payment. The demand should lay out the exact amount you believe is owed, so the debtor cannot plausibly claim ignorance of that fact. If a lot of money is involved, it might be prudent to hire an Outagamie County, Wisconsin collections agency. If you go this route, it is critical to make sure that you hire an agency that is trustworthy, and follows the relevant law to the letter.

What if Someone Is Trying to Collect Money Against Me in Outagamie County, Wisconsin?

Of course, if you owe money and have the ability to pay it, you should do so. If the collections caller is behaving civilly, 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.

Fortunately, you have some options in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. First of all, you should try to contact the creditor directly, and see if something can be worked out. If this doesn't work, you can demand that the collection agency stop contacting you by phone. When this happens, they are not permitted to contact you further. This, of course, doesn't make the debt go away, but if the calls are becoming unbearable, it might buy you a little bit of time. Usually, when this happens, the creditor gives up on extra-judicial collections, and files a lawsuit against the debtor.

If you have retained the services of an Outagamie County, Wisconsin attorney, they might advise that you declare bankruptcy, depending on your specific situation. In any case, you shouldn't consider bankruptcy before weighing other options, and discussing the matter with an attorney.

How Can a Outagamie County, Wisconsin 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 an Outagamie County, Wisconsin attorney, since you might truly have a claim for damages against the creditor.

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