Many seniors without means are threatened by #debt collectors over #debt they may not have the ability to pay. Good news for seniors: if you're in #debt, the law protects you in many ways that you may not know. Hear Attorney Eric Olsen, Executive Director of the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm, explain why seniors should not worry about #debt collectors.

Time Stamps
0:00 Introduction to Attorney Eric Olsen and his Debt Collector knowledge
1:30 Is debt a growing problem among America’s seniors?
2:02 What happens when a senior doesn’t pay their debt?
2:36 The rules that debt collectors should follow according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
3:30 The different kinds of debt collectors
3:54 Debt collectors will never tell a senior about their rights
4:04 How it’s different when a senior owes money
7:14 What seniors should never do when dealing with a debt collector
8:35 How a “cease and desist” letter can get debt collectors off your back
9:15 How to verify the debt and make sure you’re not being scammed
10:40 Seniors may still get sued, but their assets may be protected
14:45 How to find a “cease and desist” letter to send to debt collectors
15:20 How the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm can protect seniors from debt collection harassment
16:57 How to contact the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm


In this video, Jeff Hoyt interviews Attorney Eric Olsen, Founder and Executive Director of the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm, on the laws surrounding #debt collectors, how to verify whether a #debt someone is trying to collect is real, how to deal with #debt collectors, how to get #debt collectors to stop calling and harassing you, why you shouldn't send a #debt collector even a small amount of money, other things you should avoid sharing with #debt collectors, why you shouldn't worry about #debt collectors suing you, and how Eric and the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm can help you if you're struggling with debt.

Seniors owe more #debt than ever before, with many living close to the poverty line, and the problem continues to grow. If a senior doesn't pay their #debt, be it a credit card, medical bills, or other #debt, eventually it will be turned over to a collections agency. But these debt collectors are bound by certain rules, and when it comes to the law, knowledge is power.

You should know when #debt collectors are breaking the law in their attempts to collect from you. Debt collectors will never tell a senior about their rights, but we will. The laws governing #debt collection change when a senior retires and starts receiving Social Security, a pension, disability, or Veteran's Administration (VA) benefits. In this video, you'll learn how your bank accounts are protected by law and why they could be out of reach of #debt collectors. A senior could still be sued, but the debtor may never be able to collect.

The attorney details the two types of letters a senior could write. He lays out where seniors could find a “cease and desist” letter that can get #debt collectors to stop harassing you, and how to use a different letter to verify their #debt is real, who was the original debtor, and other details about the amount owed. If you want to pay off your #debt, you should first establish that it's real and not a scam.

Eric Olsen also explains the actions that seniors should not take when dealing with a #debt collector that could affect the statute of limitations. If you make a mistake, you may restart the clock on how long a #debt collector has to try to collect the #debt.

Finally, the lawyer explains how the HELPS Non-profit Law Firm acts as the attorney for seniors dealing with aggressive debt collectors so they legally can't contact them anymore. If you're struggling with debt, Eric and his firm may be able to help you.

Jeff Hoyt is SeniorLiving.org’s Editor-in-Chief.

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To contact the HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm, call 1-855-435-7787 or visit helpsishere.org.

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