Q: Should I answer the phone?

A: Yes. If you lose your job or face any significant financial disruption likely to put you behind on bills, notify creditors promptly and stay in touch, said Tony Mardian of Cornerstone Financial Counseling. Tell each the reason for the disruption in payments, the monthly amount you intend to pay and state your intention to pay in full what is owed. To avoid unwanted phone calls you may be unprepared for, some experts recommend giving your creditors a time and day of the week when you would like to be contacted by phone. At that time, be there and answer, he said.

Q: What if I don’t have even the minimum payment?

A: Pay what you can, Mardian said. First, calculate your disposable income by deducting the cost of essentials — shelter, utilities, food and basic transportation — from your total income. The remainder is the cash available to pay debts. Second, figure what percentage of your total debt each individual debt represents. Third, use this to divide the available money among your creditors. Example: Suppose a person owes $8,000 on a credit card, $1,700 on a car loan and $300 on a fine and has $500 monthly to pay debts. Since the card is 80 percent of the total debt, the car loan is 17 percent and the fine is 3 percent, the individual wishing to give each creditor its fair share would pay $400 on the card, $85 on the car loan and $15 on the fine monthly.

Q: What is a debt collector?

A: It's a third party not employed by the original creditor whose business is collecting debts for others, according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Debt collectors developed a reputation for overaggressive, brazen tactics and, in response, Congress adopted prohibitions in 1978 in the form of the act. Debt collectors may call or write and demand payment. They are prohibited by law from contacting a debtor at work if the collector knows or should suspect the employer prohibits such contacts and also may not contact the debtor before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. or at any time in a harassing or abusive manner. A debtor who believes a debt collect or has violated the law may invoke his right not to be contacted further by requesting this in writing.

Q: How do I get organized after bills have piled up?

A: Create a space in your home for money management, such as a desk in a quiet corner, said Michelle Twitchell, certified financial social work educator/coach. Your checkbook, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils, calculator, shredder and a ledger should be stored here. Once a week at a designated time, sit down and log your income from pay stubs, record your spending from receipts, pay bills and review balances. Shred financial paperwork you no longer need, but save routine documents such as monthly bills for at least one year.