People that are in debt are often scared of debt collectors, but in fact (unless you have borrowed money from a loan shark or the criminal underworld) they have very little to worry about. Debt collection protection laws exist in many countries (certainly in the UK) and actually give very little power to the debt collector and a lot of protection to the debtor.

The best idea if you are experiencing problems with debt collectors is to seek qualified advice since the range of rules per country/state are very complicated and depend on many factors. There are some general principles that apply to most debt collection protection laws:

1. Debt collection agencies are not allowed to harass debtors. Activities that constitute harassment vary from place to place but would typically include calling too frequently or at unusual hours.

2. Revealing the debtors situation to other people (employers etc.). Debt collection agencies are supposed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their actions do not alert other people to the debtors situation. This would include speaking to your boss at work or someone that lives in your home.

3. Using abusive language. Deb collection agents have to deal with you in a professional manner. Petty insults and bad language are not tolerated.

4. Misrepresenting their powers or actions that they are going to take. Unfortunately debt collection agents will frequently imply that they are going to take money direct from your employer if you don't agree to pay them. This is completely untrue and illegal since they cannot do this without further legal action.

5. A debt collection agent that visits your home has no right to speak to you and no right to enter your home. In the UK it is only bailiffs that can sometimes do this, and even they have no right to force entry into your home in most cases.

6. I'm not sure whether this last point is against the rules (this site is only based on my personal experience) but beware of debt collection agents that try to get you to stop/reduce priority debt payments (mortgage, rent, food, tax, fines) to be able to pay them some money. Some will try because they don't really care what trouble you get into.

If you feel that any debt collection agent that you speak to has broken the rules then your first action (other than getting some professional debt advice) should be to write a letter to the collection agency involved stating what they have done and that you know that it is illegal. This will stop the activity in most cases, but if it does not then you really do need to get some qualified free debt advice.