The content below equips you to defend yourself when debt collectors, repossession agents, or garnishing creditors show up.
It offers an Idaho-specific Claim of Exemption form to protect wages or bank funds, fill-in-the-blank letters to halt or dispute collection efforts, plain-language factsheets on credit- and debit-card rights, bilingual alerts on telemarketing scams, and step-by-step guidance for keeping Social Security and other benefits safe from seizure
The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has created Consumer Advice for Dealing with Debt Collectors. Their webpage covers the following information:
- Do Not Let Collectors Pressure You
- What Collectors Can Legally Do to Collect on a Debt
- Nine Ways to Stop Debt Collection Harassment
- Illegal Debt Collection Conduct
This webpage also includes example Cease and Desist or Stop Contact Letters, Exempt Income Letters, Dispute Letter, and Verification Letter to debt collectors.
Visit the links above or go to https://library.nclc.org/consumer-advice-dealing-debt-collectors%E2%80%94including-new-federal-rules for more information.
Telemarketing is a significant and legitimate business. At the same time, many Idahoans have suffered financial losses due to deception by unscrupulous telemarketers.
Similarly, Idahoans report that the large number of calls they receive disturbs their peace and interrupts their family life.
If debt is piling up, it's important to remember that you're not alone and that you still have options. Surviving Debt is a free, plain-language guide from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) that walks you through practical steps to protect yourself, understand your rights, and decide what to do next.
Surviving Debt includes clear, actionable information on many of the situations people face when money is tight.
Topics include: medical debt and dealing with bills and collectors; credit card debt and choosing what to pay first; student loans (including major recent changes and cancellation options); car repossessions; evictions, rental debt, and getting out of a lease; and bankruptcy information.
It also links to helpful companion resources, like sample letters (including a “stop contact/cease” letter) and other tools you can use. To access it online, you can read it directly on NCLC’s site using their website's direct link.
