Credit Report

• A collection agent may place your collection account onto your credit report, causing damage to your credit score.
  
  

Telephone Calls

• A collection agent may call you at home between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. to attempt to collect a debt. A collector may not call you repeatedly to harass you and cannot call you at all if you specify in writing that you wish for the telephone calls to stop.
  
  

Third-Party Communication

• A collection agent may contact your friends, family, and employer in an effort to find you. It may not, however, notify third parties of your debt.
  
  

Lawsuits

• A lawsuit can be legally filed against you by a collection agent if the debt in question is still within the statute of limitations for debt collection in your state.
  
  

Wage Garnishment

• If a collection agent wins a lawsuit against you, it may apply with the court for a writ of garnishment. This grants the collection agent the right to garnish your wages and bank accounts for the balance of the debt.