Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania (CCCS) PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Terri Stocki, Education Director

Phone: 570-602-2227 ext. 220

e-mail: tstocki@cccsnepa.org

IT’S TIME TO PAY THE PIPER, BUT WHAT IF I CAN’T PAY? NFCC and CCCS Remind Consumers of Fair Debt Collection Protections

Pittston, PA – The holiday hangover has begun, and it may take more than strong coffee to relieve it. Estimates show that consumers spent close to $1,000 this holiday season, often adding those charges to an already burdensome debt load.

“Piling new debt on top of old is never smart, but in today’s economic environment, it’s downright dangerous to accumulate debt you cannot readily repay,” said Terri Stocki, Education Director.“ According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s (NFCC) Financial Literacy Survey co-sponsored by MSN Money, roughly 15 million Americans are already receiving calls from collectors or considering filing for bankruptcy. Therefore, any new debt may be the final nail in the financial coffin.”

Collectors also may become more aggressive in 2009. Consumers who are delinquent on accounts are likely to receive calls or letters from creditors sooner than in the past. Since money is tight, the creditors want to be first in line, thus enhancing their chance of being repaid.

Realizing that holiday bills are arriving, and millions of consumers may have accounts in collections with a third-party collector, or headed there, CCCS of NE PA wants to remind people of the protections afforded by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

BLOOMSBURG . HAZLETON . PITTSTON

STATE COLLEGE. STROUDSBURG. SUNBURY. WILLIAMSPORT

	When can they call? - A debt collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree to such times.
	Can they call me at work? - You may not be contacted at work by a debt collector if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.
	Can they harass me? – A collector may not use threats of violence or harm, use obscene or profane language, or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy you. Further, they may not imply that you’ve committed a crime or will be arrested if you do not pay your debt, or pretend that they are an attorney or are a government representative if they are not.
	Is there any way to get collection efforts to stop? - The consumer can stop all contact from the collector by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives the letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact, or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action.
	Can they tell others about my debt? - A debt collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Typically, they may only contact a third party once, and in most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney (if you have one) that you owe the debt.
	What if I don’t think I owe the debt? - You are entitled to a verification of the debt within five days of initial contact. This confirmation must be sent to you in writing and must include the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the debt, and provide you with options to take if you do not owe the money.
	Can they continue to contact me after I dispute the debt? – Collection efforts may not continue if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe the money. However, a collector can renew collection activities by providing you with proof of the debt.

Job loss and financial instability have forced many consumers into making tough choices when it comes to how they allocate their money. Such decisions can result in accounts going into collections. Even if this happens, the consumer deserves to be treated fairly, which is most often the case.

However, if a consumer comes in contact with a collector who crosses the line, the problem should be reported to their state Attorney General’s office and the Federal Trade Commission. Abuses can result in fines for the collection agency, but equally important, reporting such violations can save others from being taken advantage of.

For help with any credit or debt problem, contact CCCS by calling 1-800-922-9537, or find the agency closest to you online at www.cccsnepa.org.

About CCCS

CCCS of NE PA was founded in 1978 and is part of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in 1951 and provides counseling and education to 23 counties throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The NFCC is the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. CCCS’s mission is to educate and assist the general public on the intelligent and prudent use of consumer credit; to provide professional budget and housing counseling to families and individuals; and where appropriate, arrange a debt management program for financially distressed consumers to liquidate their debts in an orderly and equitable manner. For more information about budget counseling and financial education courses, contact CCCS at 1-800-922-9537or visit www.cccsnepa.org.

About the NFCC

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in 1951, is the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC’s mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. NFCC members annually help more than two million consumers through close to 850 community-based offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice through a reputable NFCC member, call1-800-388-2227, (en Español 1-800-682-9832) or visit www.nfcc.org.