Third-party collection agencies such as AR Resources often deal with consumers in difficult situations. Additionally, the stigma surrounding debt means that few of the consumer’s loved ones– if any– know about the consumer’s financial struggles.
This, in turn, means that far too many people don’t think to ask for help if they’re being harassed by third-party collectors.
Know Your Rights
The more intimidated that people are, the fewer questions they will ask and the more likely they will be to obey a harasser. Government officials recognized this, so in 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted.
The FDCPA protects consumers like you from aggressive collection methods, including:
- Being called before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. in your time zone
- Being called at work after asking that the agency not do that
- Threatening legal action the agency can’t or wouldn’t take
- Trying to collect an old debt or money that you don’t owe
- Impersonating an IRS agent or police officer
An attorney is the best person to determine whether you should move forward with your FDCPA case. If you decide to move forward, your attorney can help you with the rest of the process, which starts with filing a claim.
![Going to Court Against AR Resources*]()
Going to Court with AR Resources
After you’ve filed a claim, the third-party collection agency will be served notice. That notice will tell the agency why its presence is requested in court and when it should appear. Those two pieces of information are called the complaint and the summons, respectively.
Now that you know when to appear in court, make travel arrangements for that day so that you can be certain that you’ll get to court on time. Make plans to get there early so that you have a cushion in case something goes wrong.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of getting there on time; not doing so is one of the quickest ways to diminish your reputation in the courtroom. Remember: you don’t have to worry about being jailed just because you can’t pay your bills.
Preparing for Your Court Appearance
The proper preparation makes all the difference in a court case, and it’s why you want to have an experienced attorney leading the process. Your attorney will help you gather evidence by helping you sift through your correspondence to see what would support your narrative of harassment.
More importantly, your attorney will look for evidence you might not have thought of seeking out, such as bank statements or unwanted letters.
After that, your attorney will help you by preparing you for the questions that the other attorney will ask. Take this preparation seriously; it will help make you feel more comfortable during your court appearance.
Additionally, better preparation means that you’re more likely to have a successful outcome. It may be tough to feel confident, but with the right preparation, you’ll be able to walk into court with your head held high.
Talk to an Attorney
Third-party collectors often make people feel ashamed of their debt, which makes consumers less likely to seek out help. That mentality is a trap. Contact an experienced FDCPA attorney today, and remember that nobody deserves harassment.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against AR Resources or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.