Drowning in debt is stressful all on its own and a position no one expects to find themselves in. Once a debt collector or creditors start harassing you with letters and calls full of threats, we understand it can be downright terrifying.  At Wright Law Offices, we are Phoenix bankruptcy lawyers who have dedicated our professional careers to helping people make a fresh financial start. With a professional, experienced bankruptcy attorney on your side, we can help you navigate the best path forward, starting with stopping creditor calls.

Dealing With Debt

Debt can damage more than your credit score. Overwhelming debt can harm both your mental and physical health, and make it seem like there’s no end in sight. According to a 2020 study by the American Psychological Association, nearly 2 in 3 adults (64%) state that money is a significant source of stress in their lives, which reflects an increase due to the pandemic, but isn’t entirely out of the norm from years prior since for years and years, finances have been the number one stressor in the lives of Americans.

Whether it’s credit card debt, medical bills, home debt, debt from private student loans, or debt from your business, it’s understandable to be overwhelmed and to feel generally helpless. But you don’t have to face it alone, the team at Wright Law Offices can help you deal with your debt, and first things first – stop creditor harassment.

 

How to Stop Collection Calls 

When calls from debt collectors start pouring in, and your mailbox gets flooded with harassing letters full of threats, it can seem impossible to push through. It’s a shame, but a debt collection agency will seemingly stop at nothing to try to intimidate you in order to get their goals accomplished.

Remember, you still have rights. There are options available so you do not have to deal with any harassment during difficult financial times. Besides the Wright Law team, the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) is the biggest and most useful weapon in your arsenal.

Under the CCPA, the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) gives you the power to stop collection agencies from contacting you altogether, including stopping those debt collection calls. However, this act does not apply to the company that originally loaned you the money.  The FDCPA outlines a number of other rules that collection agencies must live by or they become open to a lawsuit:

  1. A collection agency may not contact your family, friends, neighbors, or employer.
  2. Collection agencies are not permitted to call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone.
  3. Use of racial slurs, obscene language, profane language, insults, other abusive language, or unreasonable threats are out of the question.
  4. No collection agency or its employee can pretend to be an attorney taking legal action or court employee or create any communication that would look like it came from one.
  5. No collection agency can threaten you with arrest for an unpaid debt.

To invoke this power and stop creditor harassment, you need to send a simple cease and desist letter (check out a sample letter here) to the collection agency making a formal request that you no longer wish to be contacted about this debt (be sure to keep a copy of the letter). If you have hired an attorney, like the team at Wright Law Offices, you can instruct the collection agency to contact your attorneys. Furthermore, violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act can and should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357.

Why Legal Representation Is Important

We get it – you’re already struggling to pay your bills, so hiring a lawyer may seem like an added expense that you simply can’t afford. But nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, having a professional bankruptcy attorney on your side could actually save you a bundle. Here’s why.

First, an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy helps protect your legal rights. Collection agencies are notorious for harassment and backing you into a corner with threats. As outlined above, you have the absolute legal right to stop creditor harassment. And your rights don’t stop there; an experienced bankruptcy attorney protects you every step of the way to brighter financial days.

Beyond protecting your rights, a bankruptcy attorney may actually correctly advise you to NOT file bankruptcy. There could be other options available to you as an alternative to bankruptcy, and your attorney has a responsibility to guide you through those alternatives to best protect yourself and gain financial peace. And, if bankruptcy is the best option, a bankruptcy lawyer will work with you to determine whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is the path forward, and then they’ll be there throughout the process as a trusted advisor, even if you end up having to go to bankruptcy court. Why wouldn’t you want a professional in your corner?

Talk to an Experienced Phoenix Bankruptcy Attorney

First, you’ve been harassed with calls from creditors, and now you’re considering your options to climb out of the hole you’ve found yourself in. Bankruptcy may very well be your best option, but filing for bankruptcy can be complicated and overwhelming, not to mention time-intensive. Consulting with an experienced attorney that specializes in bankruptcy specifically is the best step you can take.  Wright Law Offices strives to be an invaluable resource for our clients who need to make a fresh financial start, and bankruptcy is all we do. We will aggressively represent you and your best interests, helping you stop creditor calls and harassment, and navigate the best path forward to financial relief.

We have offices all over the Valley, and are ready to represent you. Schedule a complimentary consultation here, or call us at 602-456-6085.