Dollar Scholars Foundation

Kaadị akwụmụgwọ na ijikwa ụgwọ · Ihe 3 nke 3

Dealing with Debt Collectors and Collection Lawsuits

Your rights with debt collectors, a sample dispute letter, old debts, what to do with court papers, and new medical bill rules in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

  • Ihe dị ka nkeji 18
  • Ajụjụ: 5
  • Ikpeazụ nyochaa: Septemba 2026
  • Emeli: Money Smart for Adults, Module 8: Managing Debt (Sections 4 and 6)

A sụgharịbeghị akụkụ nke nkuzi a n'asụsụ gị, n'ihi ya, a na-egosipụta ha n'asụsụ Bekee.

Na nkuzi a

Ihe ị ga-amụta

  • Explain what debt collectors can and cannot do under federal law.
  • Dispute a debt or ask for proof in writing within the 30-day window.
  • Recognize old (time-barred) debts and fake collectors before you pay.
  • Respond to court papers, and handle medical bills by asking for an itemized bill and financial assistance.

Kedu ka nke a si jikọọ na klaasị anyị: Our class covers what happens when a debt goes to collection and how medical debt is different. This lesson adds a sample letter, a way to check if a collector is real, what to do with court papers, and the current DC, Maryland, and Virginia rules.

Okwu ndị ị ga-amata

Onye na-anakọta ụgwọ (Debt collector)
Ụlọ ọrụ ma ọ bụ onye na-anakọta ụgwọ onye ọzọ, ma ọ bụ nke zụrụ ụgwọ ochie ma gbalịa ịnakọta ha.
Nkwenye ọkwa (Validation notice)
Akwụkwọ ozi onye na-anakọta ụgwọ ga-eziga nke na-akpọ onye ji ụgwọ, na-egosi ihe ị ji ụgwọ, ma kọwaa otu na mgbe ị ga-arụ ụka n'ụgwọ ahụ.
Iwu nke mmachi (Statute of limitations)
Oge ịgba gị akwụkwọ maka ụgwọ. Mgbe ọ gafere, a na-akpọ ụgwọ ahụ oge.
Ikpe ndabara (Default judgment)
Mkpebi ụlọ ikpe megide gị n'ihi na ị zaghị ikpe ma ọ bụ na ị bịaghị n'ụlọ ikpe.
Ụgwọ ọrụ garnishment (Wage garnishment)
Iwu ụlọ ikpe nke na-eme ka onye were gị n'ọrụ ziga akụkụ nke ụgwọ gị na onye ji ụgwọ.
Enyemaka ego (nlekọta ebere) (Financial assistance (charity care))
Mmemme ụlọ ọgwụ nke na-enye nlekọta n'efu ma ọ bụ dị ala maka ndị ọrịa ruru eru, na-adabere na ego.
Itemized Bill
A na-akwụ ụgwọ nke na-edepụta ọrụ ọ bụla ma ọ bụ ihe ị natara na ọnụahịa nke ọ bụla.
Ọkwa ịda ogbenye Federal (Federal poverty level)
Ego ego gọọmentị etiti na-esetịpụ kwa afọ, dabere na nha ezinụlọ. Ọtụtụ mmemme na-eji ya eme ihe iji kpebie onye ruru eru maka enyemaka.

Ikike gị mgbe onye na-anakọta na-akpọtụrụ gị

Onye na-anakọta ụgwọ bụ ụlọ ọrụ na-anakọta ụgwọ maka onye ọzọ, ma ọ bụ nke na-azụta ụgwọ ochie. Iwu gọọmentị etiti, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, setịpụrụ iwu maka otu ndị na-anakọta si eme. DC na Maryland nwekwara iwu nnakọta ụgwọ nke ha.

N'ikwu okwu n'ozuzu, onye na-ede blọgụ nwere ike ọ gaghị ekwe omume:

  • Kpọọ gị tupu elekere 8 nke ụtụtụ ma ọ bụ mgbe elekere 9 nke ụtụtụ gachara.
  • Kpọọ gị maka otu ụgwọ karịa ugboro 7 n'ime ụbọchị 7, ma ọ bụ n'ime ụbọchị 7 mgbe gị na ekwentị kwurịtara okwu banyere ya.
  • Kpọọ gị n'ebe ọrụ ma ọ bụrụ na ha maara na onye were gị n'ọrụ anaghị ekwe ka ya.
  • Kwuo na a ga-ejide gị, ma ọ bụ kwuo na ha ga-agba gị akwụkwọ mgbe nke ahụ abụghị eziokwu.
  • Mee ka à ga-asị na ị bụ onye ọka iwu ma ọ bụ onye ọrụ gọọmentị.
  • Gwa ndị ikwu gị, ndị agbata obi gị, ma ọ bụ onye isi gị banyere ụgwọ gị. Ha nwere ike ịgwa ya naanị gị, onye òtù ọlụlụ gị, ma ọ bụ onye ọka iwu gị. Ha nwere ike ịkpọtụrụ ndị ọzọ naanị iji chọta gị.
  • Dee banyere ụgwọ gị na mgbasa ozi ọha na eze ebe ndị ọzọ nwere ike ịhụ ya.
  • Kwuo na ị ji ụgwọ dị iche karịa ka ị ji ụgwọ n'ezie.

Ị nwere ike ịgwa onye na-anakọta otu na mgbe ị ga-akpọtụrụ gị, dịka ọmụmaatụ "enweghị oku n'ọrụ" ma ọ bụ "site na mail naanị." Ọ bụrụ na ịchọrọ ka ha kwụsị ịkpọtụrụ gị, ziga akwụkwọ ozi. Mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, ha nwere ike ịkpọtụrụ gị naanị iji kwuo na ha ga-akwụsị ma ọ bụ gwa gị banyere otu nzọụkwụ, dị ka ikpe. Ịkwụsị kọntaktị anaghị ehichapụ ụgwọ ahụ.

Rịọ maka ihe akaebe na esemokwu na ederede ederede.

Onye na-anakọta ga-ezitere gị ọkwa nkwenye na kọntaktị mbụ ya ma ọ bụ n'ime ụbọchị 5 mgbe ọ gasịrị. Ọkwa ahụ na-akpọ onye ji ụgwọ, na-egosi ihe ị ji ụgwọ na ọmụrụ nwa na ụgwọ, ma na-enye ụbọchị njedebe maka oge esemokwu ụbọchị 30.

  1. Na oku mbụ, akwụla ụgwọ ma ọ bụ kwenye na ihe ọ bụla. Jụọ aha onye na-anakọta ya, ụlọ ọrụ, adreesị nzipu ozi, na nọmba ekwentị.
  2. Chere maka ọkwa nkwenye, ma ọ bụ gwa ha ka ha ziga ya.
  3. Tụnyere ya na ndekọ gị. Ụgwọ ahụ ọ bụ nke gị? Ego ahụ ọ ziri ezi? Ị kwụrụ ụgwọ ya?
  4. Ọ bụrụ na ihe ọ bụla na-ezighi ezi ma ọ bụ na-edoghị anya, ziga akwụkwọ ozi esemokwu tupu ụbọchị njedebe na ọkwa ahụ. Jiri akwụkwọ ozi a kwadoro na nnata nloghachi, ma debe oyiri.
  5. Mgbe ị rụrụ ụka na ederede n'ime ụbọchị 30, onye na-anakọta ga-akwụsị ịnakọta ego esemokwu ahụ ruo mgbe ọ zara gị.
  6. Debe ndekọ nke oku ọ bụla: ụbọchị, oge, aha onye ahụ, na ihe a na-ekwu.

Sample esemokwu akwụkwọ ozi

[Aha gị]
[Adreesị gị]
[Ụbọchị]

[Aha onye nchịkọta]
[Adreesị onye nchịkọta]

Banyere: nọmba akaụntụ [nọmba site na ọkwa]

Ana m ede banyere akwụkwọ ozi gị nke ụbọchị [ụbọchị]. Ana m emegide ụgwọ a. [Họrọ otu: Anaghị m akwụ ụgwọ a. / Ego ahụ ezighi ezi. / Achọrọ m ozi ndị ọzọ.]

Biko zitere m aha onye ji ụgwọ mbụ, otu esi enweta ego ị kwuru na m ji ụgwọ. Biko kpọtụrụ m naanị site na mail.

Akwụkwọ ozi a ekwughị na m ji ụgwọ a.

[Mbinye aka gị]

Etinyela nọmba akaụntụ akụ gị ma ọ bụ nọmba nchekwa ọha na eze n'akwụkwọ ozi ahụ.

Onye na-anakọta ihe ọ bụ eziokwu? Ụgwọ ahụ ọ dị agadi?

Jide n'aka na onye na-ede blọgụ ahụ dị adị n'ezie.

  • Ekwenyela na aha ahụ na ID onye na-akpọ oku. Ndị scammers nwere ike ịgha ụgha.
  • Lelee ụlọ ọrụ ahụ n'onwe gị. Kpọọ onye na-akwụ ụgwọ mbụ ma jụọ onye nwe ụgwọ ahụ ugbu a.
  • Na Maryland, ụlọ ọrụ nchịkọta ga-enwerịrị ikikere steeti. Ị nwere ike ịlele ya na Office of Financial Regulation.
  • Ejila kaadị onyinye, nnyefe waya, crypto, ma ọ bụ ngwa ịkwụ ụgwọ n'ihi na onye na-akpọ gị na-agba ọsọ. Onye na-anakọta kwesịrị izitere gị ọkwa ederede.
  • Lelee ụgwọ gị n'efu na akụkọ akwụmụgwọ gị n'efu na AnnualCreditReport.com.

Ndị na-akwụ ụgwọ ochie nwere oke oge.

Iwu mmachi bụ oge ịgba gị akwụkwọ maka ụgwọ. N'ọtụtụ steeti, ọ bụ afọ 3 ruo 6, ụfọdụ dịkwa ogologo. Mgbe ọ gafere, ụgwọ ahụ na-egbochi oge. Onye na-anakọta ihe nwere ike ịjụ gị ka ị kwụọ ụgwọ, mana ọ nwere ike ọ gaghị agba gị akwụkwọ ma ọ bụ iyi egwu ịgba gị akwụkwọ.

  • DC: Afọ 3 maka ọtụtụ ụgwọ ndị ahịa. Ịkwụ ụgwọ emere mgbe oge gafere anaghị amaliteghachi ya.
  • Maryland: Afọ 3 maka ọtụtụ ụgwọ ndị ahịa. Ịkwụ ụgwọ a na-akwụ mgbe oge gafere anaghị amaliteghachi ya.
  • Virginia: Afọ 3 maka ụgwọ na-enweghị nkwekọrịta ederede, ma ọ bụ afọ 5 maka nkwekọrịta ederede. O nwere ike isiri gị ike ịmata nke na-emetụta ya. Nkwa edere ede ịkwụ ụgwọ nwere ike ịmaliteghachi oge ahụ.

Oge ịgba akwụkwọ abụghị otu ihe ahụ dị ka njedebe akụkọ kredit. Ọtụtụ ozi na-adịghị mma, gụnyere ọtụtụ nchịkọta, nwere ike ịnọ na akụkọ kredit gị maka afọ 7. Tupu ị kwụọ ụgwọ ihe ọ bụla na ụgwọ ochie, gwa onye enyemaka iwu.

Ihe Nlereanya

Tere Mere Dil Na Tere Mere Dil Ka Phone Bill

Mateo bi na Laurel, Maryland. Na 2020, ọ kwụsịrị ịkwụ ụgwọ ekwentị $ 900 mgbe a chụrụ ya n'ọrụ. Na 2026, onye na-anakọta ihe na-akpọ. Ọ na-ekwu na ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ $ 1,350 ugbu a ma rịọ maka ịkwụ ụgwọ "ezigbo okwukwe" nke $ 50 taa.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Maryland
Kedu ihe mereAfọ
Mateo kwụsịrị ịkwụ ụgwọ $ 9002020
Afọ 3 nke ikpe na-akwụsị2023
Onye na-anakọta ya na-akpọ ma na-arịọ maka $ 1,3502026
Onye na-anakọta nwere ike ịgba ya akwụkwọ na 2026?Mba

2020 + afọ 3 = 2023, yabụ na 2026 ụgwọ ahụ na-egbochi oge na Maryland

Onye na-anakọta ihe ka nwere ike ịrịọ Mateo ka ọ kwụọ ụgwọ, mana ọ nwere ike ọ gaghị agba akwụkwọ ma ọ bụ iyi egwu ịgba akwụkwọ. Na Maryland, ịkwụ ụgwọ $ 50 ugbu a agaghị amaliteghachi oge ahụ. Mateo nwere ike ịrịọ maka ọkwa nkwenye iji hụ etu $ 900 si ghọọ $ 1,350, ọ nwere ike ịkpọ enyemaka iwu tupu ya ekpebie ihe ọ ga-eme.

Lee anya

Court papers: never ignore them

If a creditor or collector sues you, you will get court papers. They may be called a summons, a complaint, or a warrant in debt. The papers give a deadline to respond or a date to come to court. If you do nothing, the court can give a default judgment against you for the amount they ask for, plus fees. Then they may be able to garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, or put a lien on your property. A lien is a legal claim on your property, such as a house or car, for money you owe. You usually cannot sell the property or borrow against it until the debt is paid.

  1. Read the papers the day you get them. Write down every deadline and court date.
  2. Check: Is the debt yours? Is the amount right? Is it too old to sue on? The collector must prove its case.
  3. Call free legal help right away. You can also ask the court's self-help center how to respond.
  4. Respond by the deadline and go to every court date. If you need an interpreter, ask the court early.
  5. Bring your papers, letters, receipts, and call log.

Some money is protected. Social Security, SSI, and veterans benefits generally cannot be taken by most creditors, even after a judgment.

Ịkwụ ụgwọ: Lelee, rịọ maka enyemaka, wee kwụọ ụgwọ

Ụgwọ ahụike na-enwekarị njehie, ọtụtụ nwere ike belata. Tupu ị kwụọ ụgwọ nnukwu ụgwọ ahụike, ma ọ bụ onye na-anakọta maka otu, soro usoro ndị a.

  1. Rịọ maka ụgwọ nke na-edepụta ọrụ ọ bụla na ọnụahịa ya.
  2. Jiri ya tụnyere nkwupụta nke mkpuchi ahụike gị. Kpọọ onye mkpuchi gị maka nkwupụta ọ bụla a jụrụ ajụ.
  3. Jụọ ụlọ ọgwụ maka iwu enyemaka ego na ngwa ya. Ụlọ ọgwụ na-abaghị uru ga-enwerịrị iwu edere ede ma mee ka ọ dị mfe ịchọta.
  4. Rịọ maka atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ na-enweghị mmasị nke dabara na mmefu ego gị.
  5. Nweta nkwekọrịta ọ bụla na ederede.

Iwu mpaghara DC (Septemba 2026)

  • Maryland: Kemgbe Ọktọba 1, 2025, enwere ike ọ gaghị akọ ụgwọ ahụike na ụlọ ọrụ kredit. Ụlọ ọgwụ enweghị ike ịgba onye ọrịa ụgwọ $ 500 ma ọ bụ obere. Ndị ọrịa nwere ụbọchị 240 site na ụgwọ mbụ iji tinye akwụkwọ maka enyemaka ego, ụlọ ọgwụ nwere ike ọ gaghị agba akwụkwọ n'oge ahụ. Hospitallọ ọgwụ Maryland ga-enye ndị ọrịa nwere ego ezinụlọ na ma ọ bụ n'okpuru 200% nke ọkwa ịda ogbenye gọọmentị.
  • Virginia: Kemgbe Julaị 1, 2024, ndị na-ahụ maka ahụike na ndị na-anakọta nwere ike ọ gaghị akọ ụgwọ ahụike na ụlọ ọrụ kredit. Kemgbe Julaị 1, 2026, ụlọ ọgwụ ma ọ bụ onye na-anakọta ụgwọ ga-echere ma ọ dịkarịa ala ụbọchị 120 mgbe ụgwọ ikpeazụ gachara ma zipu ọkwa edere ede banyere enyemaka ego, tupu ọ gbaa onye ọrịa akwụkwọ ma ọ bụ ree ụgwọ ahụ. Onye ọrịa ahụ nwere opekata mpe ụbọchị 30 iji rịọ maka ihe akaebe nke ụgwọ ahụ ma ọ bụ rịọ maka enyemaka.
  • DC: Na 2026, DC gafere iwu ụgwọ ahụike ọhụrụ. Iwu ya bụ isi, gụnyere mmachibido ịkọ ụgwọ ahụike na ụlọ ọrụ kredit, na-amalite naanị ọnwa isii mgbe mmefu ego DC kwụrụ ụgwọ maka iwu ahụ. Jụọ enyemaka iwu nke iwu metụtara ụgwọ gị.
  • N'ebe niile: Ụlọ ọrụ kredit mba atọ na-ahapụ nchịkọta ahụike na nchịkọta ahụike na-akwụ ụgwọ n'okpuru $ 500. Ha na-echere otu afọ tupu ha agbakwunye nchịkọta ahụike a na-akwụghị ụgwọ. Iwu gọọmentị etiti iji wepụ ụgwọ ahụike niile site na akụkọ kredit kagburu ụlọ ikpe na July 2025. Na Ọktọba 2025, CFPB kwuru na ọ kwenyere na iwu gọọmentị etiti na-emeri iwu ịkọ akụkọ kredit steeti dị ka ndị dị n'elu, yabụ ụlọ ikpe nwere ike ikpebi ókè ha ga-eru.

Ndụmọdụ

Ebee ka ị ga-akọ nsogbu

Ọ bụrụ na onye na-anakọta emebie iwu, dee ihe mere ma debe akwụkwọ ozi ma ọ bụ ozi ọ bụla. Ị nwere ike itinye akwụkwọ mkpesa na CFPB na consumerfinance.gov/complaint ma ọ bụ (855) 411-2372. I nwekwara ike ịkpọtụrụ DC Office of the Attorney General, 202-442-9828, Maryland Office of Financial Regulation, 410-230-6077, ma ọ bụ Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section, 804-786-2042. Ọ bụrụ na ị na-agba akwụkwọ ikpe, kpọọ enyemaka iwu mbụ.

Key takeaways

  • Collectors may not threaten arrest, lie about what you owe, or call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • You have 30 days after the validation notice to dispute a debt in writing. Keep copies of everything.
  • In DC and Maryland, most consumer debts cannot be taken to court after 3 years. A payment made after that time does not restart the time limit.
  • Never ignore court papers. Respond by the deadline and call free legal help right away.
  • For a medical bill, ask for an itemized bill and the hospital's financial assistance application before you pay.

Lelee nghọta gị

Zaa ajụjụ ndị ahụ, wee họrọ Lelee azịza m. Nweta 4 nke ikike 5 iji mezue nkuzi a. Nke a bụ omume: enweghị oge ọ bụla, anyị anaghị edebe azịza gị.

Ajụjụ 1 nke 5 Otu onye na-anakọta na-akpọ Fatima na 10 pm ma kwuo na a ga-ejide ya ma ọ bụrụ na ọ kwụghị ụgwọ taa. Gịnị bụ eziokwu?
Ajụjụ 2 nke 5 Joseph na-enweta ọkwa nkwenye maka ụgwọ $ 1,100 ọ na-amaghị. Gịnị ka ọ ga-eme?
Ajụjụ 3 nke 5 Mateo bi na Maryland. Ọ kwụsịrị ịkwụ ụgwọ ekwentị na 2020. Na 2026, onye na-anakọta ihe na-arịọ ya ka ọ kwụọ ụgwọ. Gịnị bụ eziokwu?
Ajụjụ 4 nke 5 Ana na-enweta akwụkwọ ụlọ ikpe na-ekwu na onye na-azụ ụgwọ na-agba ya akwụkwọ na DC. Ọ na-eche na ụgwọ ahụ abụghị nke ya. Gịnị ka ọ ga-eme?
Ajụjụ 5 nke 5 Kofi na-enweta ụgwọ $ 4,000 mgbe ọ gachara nleta ụlọ mberede n'ụlọ ọgwụ na-abaghị uru na Virginia. Kedu ihe bụ nzọụkwụ mbụ dị mma?

Gaa n'ihu

Ebe nrụọrụ weebụ ndị a tụkwasịrị obi ebe ị nwere ike ịmụtakwu ihe. Njikọ ndị a na-aga na weebụsaịtị ndị ọzọ nke Dollar Scholars anaghị agba ọsọ.

Ihe mmụta a bụ agụmakwụkwọ ego izugbe, ọ bụghị iwu, ụtụ isi, ma ọ bụ ndụmọdụ ego. Iwu na ego na-agbanwe, yabụ lelee nọmba dị mkpa na isi mmalite gọọmentị.