Debt collectors are not the easiest people in the world to deal with. They call constantly, and demand money that most people would have paid a long time ago if they had it to pay. Many of them are even unethical in their practices, threatening people and calling at times that are inconvenient at best, and at worst, detrimental to their financial health, such as during work hours. Most people would gie anything to have these people off their backs for good. There are ways, however, to deal with debt collectors and to at least slow down the harassment, if not stop it altogether.
When the debt collectors are calling constantly, it is usually because you do not have the money to pay them. Of course, this does not stop them from calling. You will, however have to deal with debt collectors differently, depending on who they work for. If you are working with the original creditor still, it does actually help to be polite and explain your situation. On the other hand, if you are dealing with a debt collection agency, do not speak to them at all unless you actually have the money and are making arrangements to pay off your debt in full.
When you speak to a debt collector, do not claim any debt until you have proof of that debt in writing. The reason for this is because some debt collectors will try to pin debt on you that does not belong to you. Even if it sounds familiar, ask for proof of the debt in writing. In addition to that, while they may try to get you to pay over the phone, you do not want to do this. Get any deal that they offer you in writing. If you do not do this, you may as well not have any kind of deal.
Another important thing to remember about debt collectors is that they cannot contact you over the phone if you have asked them not to. Therefore, if they are calling constantly and harassing you, you will need to send a do not contact letter. Be aware that some debt collectors will avoid giving you a mailing address so that you cannot send this letter, but you must persist in asking for it. If all else fails, everyone who is trying to collect any debt from you should be on your credit report, with mailing addresses, so use that. You will need to send it certified mail return receipt requested to make sure that it gets to the proper destination, and to cover yourself if they claim never to have received it. They are required by law to abide by that letter. They also are not allowed to contact you at work if you tell them not to, or to call you before 8am or after 9pm.
The important thing to remember that even when you fall behind on your bills, you still have rights. You do not have to put up with harassing phone calls or debt collectors that seem to think they are superior to you because you have fallen behind on a few bills.