Most creditors will write or call to try to collect a past due debt. Sometimes the calls or letters rise to the level of harassment. For example, a creditor might call several times a day, at work, or at inconvenient times of the day (like before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.). The creditor may threaten with harm or use obscene or foul language. What the creditor is trying to do is put the pressure on so the debtor will pay the abusive creditor ahead of others that are not pressing so hard.