Getting a divorce can be one of the most emotionally trying experiences that an adult will ever have to go through.
It involves the division of assets, the division of marital property and it involves deciding which spouse will be responsible for paying which debts.
Although the spouses may agree on taking responsibility for paying different debts, often times both spouses names are on the debt; for example, although a husband might have moved out of the family home and his wife and children remained, all the utilities might still be under his name; therefore, if his ex-wife fails to pay the electric bill, and if it is allowed to go delinquent, then creditors can contact him for collection and the derogatory account will be reported on his credit, even though he isn't responsible for paying the electric bill any longer.
Even though you and your ex-spouse might have had all of the arrangements made for who would be responsible for what debts, often times your name will still be associated with your spouse's debts.
Your divorce could have been finalized years ago, but you could still be considered a cardholder on a credit card account, or your name might still be on the auto loan for the car that your ex is still driving.
If your ex-spouse fails to keep up with their obligations, and if your name is on any of these utility accounts, credit card accounts, gym memberships, children's medical bills, or any other account, then the creditor may pursue you for payment, even if you aren't technically responsible for the debts as was outlined in your divorce agreement.
There are many time proven tactics that can successfully remove your name from your ex-spouse's accounts so that creditor's can't harass you any further.
If the debt was solely your spouses, and you had no involvement in the debt, yet collection agencies keep trying to collect from you, then there are solutions to this problem as well.
It is extremely common for credit agencies to link credit information between spouses.
Collection agencies can then use this information to contact you in an attempt to collect your spouse's debt.
If the credit collection agency uses abusive tactics, then they might be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If this is the case, an attorney can take swift and aggressive action to put a stop to the harassment once and for all.
In fact, if the credit collection agency is found to be in violation of the law; you may be able to seek compensation.
To put an end to creditor harassment, contact a debt collector abuse attorney without delay!