Can debt collectors come to your house?

YES. Debt collectors can show up IN PERSON where you live. But FEDERAL LAW says they can't do any of this… Force you to open the door.
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What happens if you ignore a debt collector?

Ignoring or avoiding the debt collector may cause the debt collector to use other methods to try to collect the debt, including a lawsuit against you. If you are unable to come to an agreement with a debt collector, you may want to contact an attorney who can provide you with legal advice about your situation.
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What should you not say to debt collectors?

3 Things You Should NEVER Say To A Debt Collector
  • Additional Phone Numbers (other than what they already have)
  • Email Addresses.
  • Mailing Address (unless you intend on coming to a payment agreement)
  • Employer or Past Employers.
  • Family Information (ex. ...
  • Bank Account Information.
  • Credit Card Number.
  • Social Security Number.
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Do debt collectors try to scare you?

Although debt collectors may use scare tactics in an attempt to make you pay your debt, their scare tactics are not always legal. Always refer to the FDCPA and report a debt collector using unfair scare tactics to retrieve your debt.
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Do debt collectors leave you alone?

Creditors will not rest until you pay them, or until you make them leave you alone. Yes, you can, FDCPA says it is your right to demand that they not communicate with you at all. Thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act laws that prevents them from calling you on Sunday and during nights or early in the morning.
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Debt Collectors Show Up At My House!!



How long can a debt be chased?

For most debts, the time limit is 6 years since you last wrote to them or made a payment. The time limit is longer for mortgage debts. If your home is repossessed and you still owe money on your mortgage, the time limit is 6 years for the interest on the mortgage and 12 years on the main amount.
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What happens after 7 years of not paying debt?

Unpaid credit card debt will drop off an individual's credit report after 7 years, meaning late payments associated with the unpaid debt will no longer affect the person's credit score.
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What happens if you hang up on a debt collector?

If you continue to ignore communicating with the debt collector, they will likely file a collections lawsuit against you in court. If you are served with a lawsuit and ignore this court filing, the debt collection company will then be able to get a default judgment against you.
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Can I go to jail for debt?

The kind of loan that you owe determines if you will go to jail for not paying it or not. If you refuse to pay your taxes or child support, for instance, you might be sent to jail. The reason is that the non-payment of your taxes or child support is a federal crime which can be classified as contempt of court.
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How do you scare debt collectors?

9 Ways to Turn the Tables on Debt Collectors
  1. Don't Wait for Them to Call. Consider picking up the phone and calling the debt collector yourself. ...
  2. Check Them Out. ...
  3. Dump it Back in Their Lap. ...
  4. Stick to Business. ...
  5. Show Them the Money. ...
  6. Ask to Speak to a Supervisor. ...
  7. Call Their Bluff. ...
  8. Tell Them to Take a Hike.
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How do creditors find your bank accounts?

How a Debt Collector Gets Access to Your Bank Account. A debt collector gains access to your bank account through a legal process called garnishment. If one of your debts goes unpaid, a creditor—or a debt collector that it hires—may obtain a court order to freeze your bank account and pull out money to cover the debt.
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Can you go to jail for not paying a Judgement?

You cannot go to jail for not paying your debts when there is a judgment against you. You can, however, be liquidated, sequestrated, an emoluments attachment order placed on your salary or your assets attached.
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Should I call a debt collector back?

If you receive a notice from a debt collector, it's important to respond as soon as possible—even if you do not owe the debt—because otherwise the collector may continue trying to collect the debt, report negative information to credit reporting companies, and even sue you.
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Why you should never pay collections?

Making a payment on the debt will likely reset the statute of limitations — which is disastrous. If the collection agency can't show ownership of the debt. Frequently, the sale of a debt from a creditor to a collector is sloppy. A collection agency hounding you may not be able to show they actually own your debt.
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Can a debt collector call my family?

Debt collectors may contact third parties like a cosigner to get your home address, phone number, or place of employment. Asking family members about your whereabouts and basic contact information is perfectly legal. But debt collectors cannot ask your friends or family members about other subjects.
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Can debt collectors send certified mail?

In many cases, debt collectors will begin to send the notices by USPS Certified Mail. Debt collectors use Certified Mail because it allows them to keep a record and provides proof and evidence when the notice was sent and when it was delivered.
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What happens if I can't pay a Judgement?

Most credit card debt is "unsecured," meaning it is not backed by property such as a home or car. But after a judgement ruling, the creditor can take steps to seize part of your salary, freeze your bank account, or even haul away your belongings.
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What happens to your bank account when you go to jail?

Generally, nothing happens to your bank account if you are sent to prison; however there are some exceptions. If the government believes that you financially benefitted from your criminal activity, such as selling drugs or insider trading, they may freeze or even take your assets.
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How long does a debt take to be written off?

Your credit report is a record of your payment behaviour. It tracks all your accounts and indicates where, over a period of two years, you have missed payments or gone into arrears on an account. Then after two years, this adverse information simply disappears.
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Can you be rude to debt collectors?

Don't subject yourself to that abuse. Even if they aren't cursing or acting overtly disrespectful, a debt collector may still be crossing the line, particularly if they're making veiled threats about seizing your assets, garnishing your wages or letting others know about your debts.
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What do you say when a debt collector calls?

You only need to say a few things:
  1. “This is not a good time. Please call back at 6:00.”
  2. “I don't believe I owe this debt. Can you send information on it?”
  3. “I prefer to pay the original creditor. ...
  4. “My employer does not allow me to take these calls at work.”
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Are debt collectors trained to be rude?

Debt collectors are trained to have a thick skin against consumer harassment, so getting angry won't get you anywhere. It won't stop the collector from calling you. It won't erase your debt.
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Can a 10 year old debt still be collected?

While a debt collector can't sue you for a debt that is older than your state's statute of limitations, they can still make an attempt to collect the debt. This means they can continue to call and send letters to get you to pay up.
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How can I get out of debt without paying?

Ask for a raise at work or move to a higher-paying job, if you can. Get a side-hustle. Start to sell valuable things, like furniture or expensive jewelry, to cover the outstanding debt. Ask for assistance: Contact your lenders and creditors and ask about lowering your monthly payment, interest rate or both.
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How long before a debt is uncollectible?

In California, the statute of limitations for consumer debt is four years. This means a creditor can't prevail in court after four years have passed, making the debt essentially uncollectable.
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