When you make any kind of a deal, when you sign any kind of a contract, you are preconditioned to carry your personal part of obligations. And be sure, your obligations are legally formalized. However, when it comes to making a credit card deal, you discover a whole sequence of withholding facts or inaccuracies which take much of your effort to resolve.

A special problem is presented by credit card debt collectors whose job it is to harass you, constantly calling you on the phone, reminding of the money you owe to your lender.

Now, there's one thing to remember for you as a full right credit card holder: you have all the legal protection from deceptive, unfair and, of course, abusive practices which are not infrequently applied by debt collectors.

We have recently received a question from a credit cardholder frustrated by the daily calls from the collectors' agency and seeking effective advice on how to stop them bothering. Miranda had always been responsible in the use of her Visa credit card but a sudden illness threw her off the rails and she didn't cope with her monthly credit card bills.

The outcome is more than evident - untimely credit card debt which was aggravated by the growing medical bills and the daily annoyance by the debt collectors. It is worth mentioning, however, that Miranda did not seize to fulfill her legal obligations and she is doing her outmost to pay the monthly minimal usually required by credit card companies.

So, what about our advice? If you are a credit consumer facing a similar trouble, we call up for your close attention to our manual.

First of all, know it that even if you are near a financial collapse and are going to be swallowed up by credit card debt, you still can avoid encountering debt collectors. Remember, your credit card company is your shelter where you can always apply for help. It would be most stupid to hide from your lender your credit card troubles.

If you do, the creditor may think you're abusing the basic credit card management laws and are simply irresponsible using your credit card.

Be sure, your creditor is interested in eliminating your credit debt and so they will always suggest some solution to your problem.

Then, if still you cannot avoid facing credit card debt collectors, there are a number of rules for you to follow to stay in the driver's seat:

Your credit consumer rights are firmly protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act;
A debt collector is prohibited by law to contact you at inconvenient time or at your work place;
A debt collector may not contact you if you send a letter to the collection agency saying you do not owe the money and it's great if you can prove it;
Debt collectors are prohibited by law to apply abusive practices or harass and oppress you;
They cannot threat you with arresting you or confiscating your assets when legally they cannot do it or are not going to do it;
They cannot collect more than you actually owe.

Now, if illegal action has been taken against you, you can always complain of the unfair practices on the part of debt collectors. Feel free to address the Federal Trade Commission to have your rights determined and protected.

Miranda has been advised to do the same and now is waiting for the mess to be resolved. But there's no doubt on our part that if she starts a fair collaboration with her creditor, her untimely debt will take a short time to sweep away.

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