Am I able to control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you choose. A debt collector can’t apply a payment to a debt you say you don’t owe.
Can a debt collector report my debt to a credit reporting company?
Yes, but a debt collector must take one of the following actions before reporting a debt to a credit reporting company
- talk to you by phone or in person about the debt
- mail a letter or send an electronic communication about the debt, such as a validation notice, and wait for a reasonable amount of time, usually 14 days, in case it’s returned as undeliverable.
Can I be sued for debt?
Yes. While each state has a statute of limitations for debt collection lawsuits, varying from 3 - 10 years, so if you're within the window you can be sued. For state-by-state information, visit here.