At some time you may find yourself in a situation where you cannot afford to pay all of your bills, and you need to negotiate with your lenders. If so, keep these facts and tips in mind:
The more polite you are in working with your creditors, the more likely they will be to work with you.
If possible, work with your creditors to determine a revised payment plan that you can meet, and offer to have the amount automatically deducted from your checking account on a monthly basis.
If you are unable to pay back the entire amount owed, make a good faith gesture to pay back what you can, such as 25% or 30% of the debt.
If you are unable to work out a suitable arrangement, it is important that you know your rights:
Collectors cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
If you tell a collector not to call you at work, then they cannot.
You cannot be sent to jail for being unable to pay your bills.
