ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY????????? Send them a debt validation letter. This is only for a collection agency. Send a certified letter and a non-certified with meter stamp(yes, walk into the post office and have them print the postage stamp right then and there, not a regular stamp, it has a bar code), take pictures of the types of letters together(on the post office counter used by the cashier), both front and back. Replace the necessary information below that is particular to you and your alleged debt. If they come with a reply within 30 days, review it carefully and see if it add up to what the below letter requests. Sometimes they will send a letter back that has ZERO information on it other than a statement that basically tells you to just trust them and send money, do not do that. Unless they send a legally acceptable VALIDATION(NOT A VERIFICATION) do not correspond any further. If they do send a legally acceptable validation, dispute it again. Keep record of all their calls, letters, etc., as well as yours and copies of the letters you send. Do not consent to be recorded when they call you, either say nothing and let them hang up, hang up yourself, or just holler about how you dispute it. In good faith, I must say that if you just went and ran up a bunch of cards and want to get off then this is not for you. If you fell on hard times and doing your best, this is something you can to protect yourself for the time being. Read carefully the letter below and read the FDCP laws(both federal and for your state), understand them in a general basis(you don't have to have super in depth understanding just a basic one), and you see just how much the law is on your side and how you do not have a great deal of legal responsibility to collector(IF you act according to the law that provides the guidelines of your rights in this situation). Get them to send you something in writing, react to it immediately in writing. The rate in which these companies can perform validations at is low, and even lower with 30 days of receiving your letter. Good luck.
Date
Your Name
Your Address
City, State Zip
Collection Agency
Collection Agency Address
City, State Zip
Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
To Whom It May Concern:
I am sending this letter to you in response to a notice I received from you on (date of letter). Be advised, this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.
This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your office provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
Please provide me with the following:
What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account;
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state; and
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent.
If your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the three major Credit Bureau’s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion), said action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:
Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Defamation of Character
If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.
Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel. This includes any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.
If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.
I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls or correspondence sent to any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter.
This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.
Best Regards,
Your Signature
Your Name
