Unless you’re living under a rock lately, you know we are living in tough times. Just paying for everyday living expenses can be a challenge for some and almost impossible for others. Every day we see news reports of either a company going out of business, a company laying off people, or even worse, the government stepping in.

While we all try hard to pay for those everyday items and needs, sometimes those unexpected expenses come up that blindside us. Such as paying for the veterinarian visits which sometimes can run several hundred dollars depending on the need. How do we handle these unexpected expenses when we lack the money?

We talked with experts in the collection industry about this topic and how to handle that situation. Many people who bring their pets to their veterinarian end up not paying their bill on time which results in some people being put into collections. Here are a few tips;

First of course is to pay your bill at the time of service. That way, you can feel better about knowing you don’t have that bill hanging over your head. Most vets will ask for payment at time of serves anyway.

If your account ends up being placed with a collection agency, here are a few tips to help you. First, believe it or not, most collection agencies are trying to help you. Yes, their client, the vet put you into collections but the collector who may be calling you is trying to help resolve that debt. Most times, they will take an offer from you to work out a payment plan. You incurred the bill so it’s only fair to your vet to make good on that bill.

Do not ignore the calls; You must stay in communication with the person calling you. That will make things easier for you. Talk with the collector and tell them your situation. If you can afford $20 a week, tell them. Most will accept that offer. Again, do not ignore the calls.

So what are your rights? There are laws that protect you in these situations. They are called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and they were put in place to protect consumers.

A collector cannot call you at an inconvenient time. Calling someone to collect on a debt before 8:00am or after 9:00pm is considered “inconvenient” and illegal in most states.

Any type of harassment is illegal; While some tempers do flair in these uncertain times, collectors must refrain from any type of harassment or any intent to annoy. A collector cannot repeatedly cause a telephone to ring with the intent to harass.

Third-party disclosure is illegal. A collector cannot discuss any issues relating to debt with anyone other than the person who owes the money.

Times are tough so knowing what a collator can and can’t so as well as knowing your responsibilities as a consumer who owes someone money will only help both parties resolve the debt and move on from an uncomfortable situation.

By David Greenwood