When you're deep in debt, you may be afraid to answer the phone for fear that it's another debt collector. But if these calls have reached the point of harassment, there are legal options you can use to protect yourself. Carmen Wong Ulrich explains the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and how it could help you stop the constant calls.

If you have a financial question you'd like Carmen to tackle, post it here in the comments or email us directly at ivcommunity@mail.ivillage.com

Watch Carmen Wong Ulrich's 'On The Money' Saturdays at 8PM ET on CNBC! Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.