Erica figured it was time to get her stove turned back on.  She had just landed a temporary job and it seemed to be working out for her.  Plus, she knew she wouldn’t be able to rely on her brother and his family for help with meals much longer, so she would have to start cooking at home again.  If only she could wait a couple more months—she would be able to pay her gas bill without doing herself in financially.  Erica was only making about $7 an hour, although the job was five days a week, but she was paying $600 a month in rent.  For the time being it would be all she could do to make ends meet and continue to care for her 3-year-old granddaughter.  She got on the phone and called the gas company, and after about ten impatient minutes was transferred to a live representative, who tried her best to get Erica to pay at least part of the long-overdue bill.  The agent mentioned that they had already sent out a collection agency notice.  Erica admitted to having received it in the mail.  Finally the agent said, look, we’ll keep sending this agency after you until you pay and after a certain amount of time we’ll have to garnish your wages.  Erica hung up feeling miserable, but what could she do?  A co-worker told her about the FDCPA, a law in place which could help her avoid getting harassed by the gas company.  Now Erica could go to an independent legal assistance office and talk to an attorney about this so she could get protection.