Stop answering your phone and stop talking to this company. Just send whatever payment you can afford when you can. Mail physical checks and always keep a paper trail.
Is this a private debt? Are you in the U.S.? Unless they’re threatening harm, they can only take you to court. If you can’t pay right now, there’s not much they can do immediately.
Send them a cease and desist letter through certified mail. If they contact you again after that, contact a debt collection lawyer. You might be able to sue them, and you wouldn’t have to pay anything upfront. I’ve done this twice and got $1,000 from each case.
Is this debt time-barred? What state are you in, and when was your last payment? Never pay a third party until you’ve verified that the debt collector is authorized by the original creditor.
Wilder said:
Is this debt time-barred? What state are you in, and when was your last payment? Never pay a third party until you’ve verified that the debt collector is authorized by the original creditor.
I’m in Ohio.
Ignore them. Debt collectors aren’t supposed to harass you like that, but some will. Block them and keep making payments when you can. As long as you’re paying something, they should back off.
A legit debt collector has to send you written demands if you request it. Call them back and ask for everything in writing, then stop responding to calls. Get their company name and address too.
Are you sure this is a debt you owe? How long ago did you incur it? It sounds like this might be past the statute of limitations. The fact that you set up a payment plan might have reset the clock, though.
You can also follow up with a certified letter requesting they communicate by mail only. Look into the laws regarding debt collection—there are things they’re not allowed to do, and you can report them if they keep harassing you.
Tell them to leave you alone and stop calling. Keep a record of every call and any harassment. If you’re struggling financially, unsecured debt should be the least of your worries right now.
Hope you didn’t pay them anything yet. Check your credit report first. If the debt is already on there, there’s no rush to pay.