Don't hand over money to a debt collector before you take a few critical steps to protect yourself. Hardollin/Getty Images

Having a debt collector reach out to you — whether it's by phone, mail, email or even text — can feel jarring. If a call like this catches you off guard, you might even be tempted to immediately pay what you're being told is owed just to make the problem disappear. After all, no one wants a debt collection issue hanging over their head, nor do they want to be sued or have their wages garnished over it.

But paying too quickly, especially without checking the details first, can backfire. You could end up paying for a debt that isn't actually yours, resetting the statute of limitations on an old debt or missing out on more affordable options to resolve wha

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