 TITLE: What Should I Do When My Account Goes to Collections? CONTENT: How to Get Through the Collections Process\n------------------------------------------\nWhen one of your debts winds up with a debt collector, you might feel helpless. There are plenty of reasons to be hopeful, though. The way you react to this can empower you to come through this with your head held high:\n1.  Act swiftly. Once you learn that a debt collector is pursuing your debt, the clock starts ticking. Time is on your side, but you must acknowledge the circumstances and respond quickly. Don't neglect your debt. Instead, be proactive so you can head off trouble.\n2.  Educate yourself. Arming yourself with information can give you an edge in finding debt solutions. Be sure you're clear about who you owe, how much you owe and what your legal rights are.\n3.  Seek help. It might be overwhelming to cope with this on your own. If so, consider hiring an attorney or contacting a nonprofit credit counseling service. An expert can provide guidance on how to resolve the debt and get your credit in better shape.\n4.  Stay on track. After you've paid off the debt that went to collections, commit to making monthly debt payments on time, sticking to your budget and maintaining a manageable amount of debt. Your credit scores eventually will reflect your hard work. END