Perhaps you've been the victim of relentless letters or phone calls from debt collectors. They contact you weekly or even daily, at work or at the dinner table. No matter what offers you make to reconcile your debt long term, the voice on the other end of the phone refuses to let you off the hook.

Meet the modern American debt collector. Today's collection agencies are going to frightening lengths to get money owed by consumers. And with credit card use showing an upward trend, the harassing correspondence isn't likely to go away anytime soon.

One debt collector recently revealed what it's like to be in her position. She says she was asked to break the law every day, such as the one that forbids collectors to inform a third party of a person's debt. Some of her fellow collectors were encouraged to enlist the debtor's family or friends to try to get them to pay up. Some collectors even used the threat of deportation on undocumented consumers. Don't like the rules? Get another job, the collector says she was told by her bosses.

The Federal Trade Commission receives more complaints about debt collection agencies than any other industry. Grievances to the FTC have tripled in the past 10 years. In 2010, 18,000 people said a collector used obscene or abusive language, which represented a 22 percent increase in just one year. And more than 4,000 reported being threatened with violence -- a 66 percent increase.

Adding to the problem are debt buyers, who purchase the debts you owe to your credit cards, hospital or cellphone company. These collectors can buy and sell debt like stock traders, meaning you could be harassed for years for the same debt, but by different callers.

None of this harassment changes the fact that some people simply don't have the money to pay their bills. If you're struggling financially and can't make your payments, it may be wise to talk to an attorney with a focus in bankruptcy to learn what your options are -- and to put those nasty phone calls to an end.

Source: The Daily Beast, "America's Abusive Debt Collectors," Gary Rivlin, Jan. 1, 2012