"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 Dunbar, West Virginia, there are countless laws which carefully limit the practices that collections agencies can engage in.

What if I Am Owed Money in Dunbar, West Virginia?

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.

Several practices that collectors cannot engage in include the use of abusive language, contacting third parties about the debt, and threatened or actual violence.

You may, however, send a written demand for timely payment. The demand should lay out precisely how much the debtor allegedly owes. If there is a large amount of money involved, it may be worth it to hire a Dunbar, West Virginia 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 trustworthy, and meticulously follows the law.

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

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.

Thankfully, you have numerous options at your disposal in Dunbar, West Virginia. First, you should try to contact the creditor directly, and see if some sort of solution can be worked out. If this is unsuccessful, you can tell the collectors to stop contacting you, which may work in some instances. Of course, this doesn't make the debt go away, but it might give you a little bit of breathing room. The collectors will only be allowed to contact you to let you know that they are suing you for the money owed, or that they have stopped trying to collect the debt.

If you have retained a Dunbar, West Virginia attorney during this process, they might advise that the best course of action is to apply for bankruptcy. This is a major decision, however, and should not be made easily. You should only apply for bankruptcy if an attorney advises you that it is a viable possible option, given your individual circumstances.

How Can a Dunbar, West Virginia 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 a Dunbar, West Virginia attorney, since you might truly have a claim for damages against the creditor.

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