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Debt Collection Quick tips on what bill collectors can and cannot do - and what you, the consumer, can do to deal with them. Debt collection in Michigan is regulated by federal and state laws. These laws give you certain rights in dealing with bill collectors. The most important thing to do to protect your rights is to do all your business with bill collectors and creditors in writing. Keep copies of notes and letters and keep track of all phone calls. Keep everything the collector sends you. Keep them in a safe place with your loan papers. There are many things that collectors cannot do when collecting a bill. For example: 1. Threaten you or use physical force to collect a bill.2. Use forms that look like court papers or legal papers.3. Threaten to have you arrested if you don't pay.4. Call you collect, or charge telegrams to your phone bill.5. Swear at you or use abusive language.6. Tell anyone else about your bill, including members of your own family, neighbors or people at work.7. Bother you at work, unless you have given written permission.8. Send postcards about your debt.9. Operate with a false or assumed name.10. Mislead you about the real situation with your loan, or give you false information about your legal rights11. Bother you at unreasonable times, usually before 8:00 am or after 9:00 PM. If a bill collector does any of these things, you should see a lawyer, you may be able to sue the collectorfor damages. If you sue, and the court finds that the collector knew he was breaking the law, you may beable to get three times the damages the collector caused. To locate free or low cost legal assistance: Visit the Michiganlegalaid.org home page and search for local assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer, organization or related service to help you with your problem.” or Look under "attorneys" in the yellow pages to find your local legal aid office, or Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738.  Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by calling (800) 347-5297. This article appears courtesy of Legal Services of South Central Michigan.

Abstract:
Quick tips on what bill collectors can and cannot do - and what you, the consumer, can do to deal with them.