Question: Mike moved out of his apartment last year, and months later a collector said he owed $800 in damages. They won't submit an itemized list to him. As Dave explains to him, he made a mistake when he moved out, but he knows who Mike must confront to get this taken care of.

Dave Ramsey's advice: Never leave a property without having the manager sign off on the property condition for you. Your gripe is not with the credit reporting agency or even the inefficient collector who doesn't care. Your problem is with the apartment complex and you need to go back and sit down and talk to the manager. Tell him or her that there was nothing wrong with the apartment when you left and you didn't know you needed a sign-off.

People don't do conflict well in person. A person is somewhat brave over the phone and totally brave on email. If you go there and try with strength and diplomacy to resolve this problem, you'll probably be able to resolve it. Don't leave the office without a resolution if you can help it. If there is something to pay, get it in writing that it will settle the item, then pay it and leave. They will report it to the credit bureau as a mistake and have it removed, and call off the collector.

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Question: Ben has been battling a collection agency for a while over a debt that he thinks was created by his ex-wife. She took out a credit card while they were married, but he had no knowledge of it and never signed anything. Dave tells him why he doesn't need to worry, as well as how to deal with these bottom feeders. He then offers his real feelings about them.

Dave Ramsey's advice: Your name must be on the account fraudulently. What you are dealing with here are bottom feeders. Debt buyers are the worst of the worst. As you have found, you're not dealing with intelligent life; it's just a barking dog on the end of a chain. They honestly don't care if you owe the money; they want to collect it anyway. If they are a big enough pain in the butt, you'll pay them even if you don't owe them.

Begin to abuse them. You've been too nice. I would sue them if they put this on your credit bureau report. Tell them you'll sue them for defamation of character. Tell them they will either clean this up, or you will turn every lawyer loose on them. Punch them in the face; they're the bottom of the barrel.

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Question: Jana is dealing with a creditor. She and her husband have saved enough to make a settlement offer. The original amount was $2,200 and Jana has $1,300 saved up. The collector wants her bank account information and will settle for $1,800. She needs to stand her ground, as Dave explains.

Dave Ramsey's advice: Tell him that you don't have a deal because you have a problem. You're only offering $1,300 and you will overnight it in the form of an overnight cashier's check. It's certified funds and it will be there in the morning, but that's the offer and I won't send it to you unless I have it in writing that you will accept it. Take it or not.

Collectors are sexist. You have a sweet, soft, nice-person voice. When he hears your voice crack and pop because you are flustered, he knows he's getting to you. Drop your voice as much as you can and don't be sweet when you talk to them. You have to be cool here.

Tell him that $1,300 is all you can and will do because it's all I've got. You'll have it tomorrow as soon as I get an email or fax from you saying you will accept that as settlement in full. And you are not allowing electronic access to your checking account.

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