Great Tips – What to Say to Debt Collectors if They Call

This is a very good instructional video by Alabama consumer attorney John Watts giving you tips about how to handle calls by debt collectors.  It is okay to screen repetitive calls by debt collectors, but I think it is important to talk to a collector at least once.  As John points out, the collector may not even be calling about your account.  If so, setting the record straight early on may help you avoid a lot of stress later. Another thing to keep in mind is that a telephone debt collector’s livelihood depends upon establishing a position of power over you. Once it is clear in your mind that this collector can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, that power goes away. Your power to waste the collector’s time actually exceeds the collector’s power to get money from you.