This is a decent book. I am a 3L law student thinking of doing collections. This book is an excellent choice for the average person with no legal education. As a law student though I always expect more though but it does set out the basics in an unbiased manner with the law printed in the appendix. Definitely worth the price.

STAY AWAY from To Pay or Not to Pay: Insider Secrets to Beating Credit Card Debt and Creditors by Stanley G. Hilton. I also purchased that book and it was horrible. Even as a 3L I know that many of the "solutions" he outlines are not realistic (suing a doctor for malpractice to stop a collection is pure insanity). Stick with DiMaggio's book.

so -so review, Mostly common sense. But a few good tips on mounting a counter attack although it doesn't let you know the practicalities of enforcing the FDCPA, namely that federal and state agencies typically don't respond to your complaints except with a form letter and no action.

This book gave me the information I needed to take control. Collection agencies do not have a right to harass you when obviously you've hit a rough time. After reading this book I am no longer intimated by a letter or phone call because I now know my rights and how I can use them.

This book was a great source of education and empowering!

I would first like to state that I read both of Rich DiMaggio's books: Credit Repair and the other, Collection Agency Harassment. I have also seen him speak. He is an outstanding speaker and a really intelligent man. When I get done listening to him, I finally feel like I have power over "the system". Truthfully--he would probably speak for your group, too, because he has a true passion about these subjects. He gives advice based on 15 years in the courtroom against the credit industry.

These are 2 distinct books, and should not be lumped into one category. There is overlap because debt collectors use our credit reports against us, but the similarities stop there. Mr. DiMaggio will teach you how to draft exacting letters of disputes, and where to send them. He explains the intricacies of the bankruptcy law, charge-offs, divorce, false identities, FICO scoring an more. I don't have a clue what Chrissy is saying about misleading titles. This book is the best I have seen.

(By the way, if you go to the web site, the author actually responds to emails!)