The Facts Regarding Zombie Debt

Nov. 3, 2011 5:34p

If you are not familiar with the term "Zombie Debt" this refers to debt that seems to never go away or die, just like the zombies you may have seen in horror movies. Debt collectors will buy old debt (also referred to as junk debt) from  credit card companies for very low prices, then try to revive it by contacting those they think might be likely candidates to pay off old debt based on their credit score and other factors. Unfortunately, they will often use abusive and harassing techniques to pressure debtors into payments, sometimes even filing lawsuits to enforce payment.

 Working with an experienced Philadelphia debt collector abuse attorney can be important in situations like this for they can quickly identify a zombie debt collector and apply the proper solution to stop the abuses. At the Law office of Michael P. Forbes, this is one of our specialties.

Common Harassment Techniques

Some of the collection techniques used by zombie debt collectors could be easily categorized as harassment and include:

  • Threats, profanity, or verbal abuse
  • Threats of  lawsuits on debt that has exceeded the statute of limitations
  • Misinforming credit bureaus that an old debt is a recent  one  and thereby expanding the time a negative item can be listed on a credit report
  • Making promises to remove bad marks on a person's credit report if a small payment is made

Tips on Debt Collection Abuse

  • Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it is against the law for collection agencies to harass you and there is list of actions they are forbidden to perform. A knowledgeable attorney can point these out to you and see if these are being violated. Know your rights.
  • Do not give a collection agency your banking information as they can then have access to your

account and may attempt to withdraw money to pay the debt.

  • Do not ignore a summons if you receive one. Consult with an attorney immediately and get legal help.

Are you experiencing creditor harassment problems in Philadelphia?

Perhaps you are a victim of zombie debt collection or some other form of debt harassment; if so, we are here to help. At the Law Office of Michael P. Forbes, our goal is to reach as many people as possible to let them know that they have options to combat collection agency harassment, get credit report inaccuracies corrected and take effective actions to prevent foreclosures.  In many cases, there is opportunity to actually sue these entities.  You enter a "safe haven "and "no judgment zone" when you enter our office and we can start you back on the road to regaining peace of mind.

Contact a Philadelphia debt collector harassment attorney in our office for a consultation and we will go over the details of your debt concerns.

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