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It's stressful to be unable to pay your bills on time. It's even more stressful to hear from a bill collector about those overdue debts. Although bill collectors can be persistent (that's their job), many are careful to follow the law when contacting you. Unfortunately, some are not. If a bill collector oversteps the bounds of the law, you can take action.

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692 and following), prohibits certain debt collectors from engaging in abusive behavior. It covers debt collectors who work for collection agencies. It does not cover debt collectors that are employed by the original creditor (the business or person who first extended you credit or loaned you money). If a debt collector that works for a collection agency breaks the law, you can take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Bills collectors from collection agencies cannot do any of the following:

• Call you repeatedly or contact you at an unreasonable time (the law presumes that before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. is unreasonable).
• Place telephone calls to you without identifying themselves as bill collectors.
• Contact you at work if your employer prohibits it.
• Use obscene or profane language.
• Use or threaten to use violence.
• Claim you owe more than you do.
• Claim to be attorneys if they're not.
• Claim that you'll be imprisoned or your property will be seized.
• Send you a paper that resembles a legal document.
• Add unauthorized interest, fees, or charges.
• Contact third parties, other than your attorney, a credit reporting bureau, or the original creditor, except for the limited purpose of finding information about your whereabouts (collectors can also contact your spouse, your parents if you are a minor, and your co-debtors unless you have asked them in writing to stop contacting you).

Here's what you can do if a debt collector engages in illegal activity:

Under the FDCPA, you have the right to tell a collection agency employee to stop contacting you. Simply send a letter stating that you want the collection agency to cease all communications with you. All agency employees are then prohibited from contacting you, except to tell you that collection efforts have ended or that the collection agency or original creditor may sue you.

You can do this even if the collector is not breaking the law, but many debt counselors feel that, unless you're judgment proof (that is, broke) or truly plan to file for bankruptcy, the best overall advice is not to ignore the debt or try and hide from the debt collector. Usually, the longer you put off resolving the issue, the worse the situation and the consequences will become. Whether you negotiate directly with the collector or obtain a lawyer's assistance, many counselors feel the best strategy almost always is to speak to the collector.

If a debt collector breaks the law, document the violation as soon as it happens. Start a log -- and write down what happened, when it happened, and who witnessed it. Then, try to have another person present (or on the phone) during all future communications with the collector. In some states, you can record phone conversations without the debt collector's knowledge. In others, this tactic is illegal. Check with your state consumer protection agency to find out what is permitted where you live.

File an official complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the federal agency that oversees collection agencies. Ask the FTC to send you a complaint form, or just write a letter. Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 6th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. Include the collection agency's name and address, the name of the collector, the dates and times of the conversations, and the names of any witnesses. Attach copies of all offending materials you received and a copy of any tape you made.

Also, send a copy of your complaint to the state agency that regulates collection agencies for the state where the agency is located. To find the agency, call information in that state's capitol city, or check your state's website.

Finally, send a copy to the original creditor and the collection agency. The original creditor may be concerned about its own liability and offer to cancel the debt.

Once your complaint is filed, don't expect immediate results. The FTC may take steps to sanction the agency if it has other complaints on record. The state agency may move more quickly to sue the collection agency or shut it down for egregious violations. Your best hope is that the creditor will offer to cancel the debt.

If you've been subject to repeated abusive behavior and can document it, consider suing the collection agency. But if the illegal behavior was annoying but nothing more, don't bother. For example, if the collector called three times in one day but never again, you probably don't have a case.

To sue the debt collector, you can represent yourself in small claims court or hire a lawyer and go to regular court. (The other side may have to pay your attorneys' fees and court costs if you win.) You're entitled to recover the amount of any actual financial losses -- for example, your pain and suffering or the amount you paid to switch to an unlisted number to avoid harassment -- and an additional amount (unrelated to actual losses) up to $1,000 for any violation of the FDCPA. (For more information about court, see Nolo's Small Claims Court Resource Center.)