If you’ve ever dealt with debt collectors, you know they can be pushy, aggressive, and, at times, downright unprofessional. But here’s the thing: as an attorney, I don’t have to deal with them. And when I choose to cut them off and work directly with the lawyers representing the creditors, it makes those collectors lose their minds.

Why I Can Sidestep Debt Collectors

Debt collectors act as middlemen. They don’t own the debt—they just chase it down for a fee. When I step in as an attorney, I have every right to bypass these middlemen and communicate directly with the plaintiff’s attorney. Why? Because I deal in legal strategy, not collection agency nonsense.

Here’s how it works:

1. Debt collectors don’t control the lawsuit. The creditor (or the firm representing them) does. I can take my negotiations straight to the source.
2. I can shut down communications at will. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives me the power to tell a collector, in no uncertain terms, “You’re done here.” Once I send that notice, they legally have to stop harassing me and my clients.
3. I get better, cleaner deals. Dealing with actual attorneys—who understand the law—is much smoother than arguing with a commission-based collector who just wants their cut.

Why Debt Collectors Hate This

Debt collectors thrive on control and intimidation. When I take that control away, they lose their leverage, and that drives them up the wall. I’ve seen it firsthand with companies like Triton and plenty of others. The moment they realize they can’t bully their way into a settlement, they start spiraling.

Here’s what happens next:

• They throw tantrums. They’ll claim I “have” to work with them. (I don’t.)
• They make empty threats. They’ll say they’re going to “escalate” things or that I’m making a mistake. (I’m not.)
• They threaten to break the law. When they get really desperate, they’ll threaten to bypass me and go after my clients directly—which is a straight-up FDCPA violation.

Debt Collectors Love to Display Their Ignorance

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that many debt collectors proudly display their ignorance—like a badge of honor. They often have zero understanding of how litigation actually works, and they prove it every time they open their mouths.

Here are some of my favorites:

• They don’t understand civil procedure. They have no clue about court deadlines, service requirements, or even basic legal filings. So when they threaten you about the legal process it comes from a place of utter stupidity.
• They threaten legal action… on a lawsuit that’s already pending. I’ve had collectors try to act tough, claiming they’re about to “take my client to court”—when there’s already an active case. It’s beyond embarrassing.
• They think they can dictate the legal process. They’ll issue absurd ultimatums, like “If you don’t pay by Friday, we’ll sue!”—even though the case is already tied up in the courts. Also, I don’t negotiate with a gun to my head. If anyone’s holding the gun it’s me, and it’s only as a healthy reminder that debt collectors do not control the clock in my world.

It’s like watching someone try to play chess with checkers rules. They don’t know what they don’t know, but that doesn’t stop them from blustering their way through conversations like they’re experts.

The Bottom Line

Debt collectors can puff their chests all they want, but the law is the law. As an attorney, I can cut them out of the picture whenever I want, and they can’t do a damn thing about it. If they step out of line, they’re the ones at risk—not me or my clients.

So, to any debt collectors out there feeling frustrated by this reality: tough shit.

Play fair, be decent, be civil (at minimal) or get played out of the game. My game.