Like many of you I was being hassled by these guys too. It was for a debt that I had paid over 9 years ago! Somehow these sleazebags picked it up and tried to squeeze me.

I wanted to be rude btw decided to be nice so I sent them a copy of my paid off receipt. They insisted that I still owed! Finally I told them that if they didn't stop harrassing me, I was going to report them and was fully prepared to do so.

Finally they stopped. Understand folks that these "collectors" are just glorified telemarketers. The turnover rate is high and they are very unprofessional and unskilled.

Times are tough and many times they will pick up a dead account or even a paid off account like mine and pressure you to pay. They think people are stupid and if you are intimidated by these guys, they will win.

If you legally owe money, you can negotiate it down. Oh yes, they will try to tell you that you can't, but you can. I always recommend to delete any late charges and addtional fees and the start by offering 10% of the original debt-NET. For example, if you owe $5, 000, start by offering $500. And this is after you have already deleted the additional fees and costs.

If they say no, ask to speak to their supervisor. If they still henge, contact the original creditor and let them know thatyou have offered a settlement to their collection agency and t hey refused. Get these guys fighting with each other.

If the calls bother you, simply contact the collector and tell them that as they know by fedral law they have to stop calling you, even if you owe the debt as long as you demand that and you are now demanding that they stop calling.

Their strategy is to try to break you down with repeated phone calls, letters and so on. Your strategy is to fight back. Make them stop. And by law they have to.

And if you really want to be rough, you can sue these collectors probably for enough money to pay off your debt and still make a nice profit.

Colection agencies have rules that they have to follow too, although they will act like they don't. You don't have to tolerate this nonsense. Fight back. It works.

Most importantly, keep your attitude. Don't let them or any financial challenge you are facing get the best to you. Say to yourself, "This too shall pass." And it surely will.