Just in case

I got a call on my caller ID, and the number matches
ursi.com
I wasn't home, they left no message, but if in fact they were trying to contact me about a so called debt, what should I ask for when they call again, and I answer? A letter?
I don't recall owing any money tht I haven't arrangements made, or arrangements pending.
Thanks!!

This is United Recovery Systems. According to many, they are a rip-off company. Get your credit report STAT. If there is nothing on there, then just ignore it. If so, DV right away.

I already got a credit report for free last June, so I cannot get another free report yet.
Is DV "Debt Validation" and how does that work, by phone? Tell them to send it to me in the mail?

Thanks!!!!

Send it via Certified Mail, return Receipt Requested, and save the signed green card when you get it back.

Here is the DebtCC Debt Validation page with complete explanations, and sample letters. Tailor accordingly.

There are quite a few bad reports on this agency, that is why I hesitate to suggest you write to them directly, but through the CRA, because there is more oversight over the process. (The FTC randomly audits the CRA's Dispute files because of so many complaints of CRAs ignoring disputes or just passing it on to the alleged creditor who says "it's valid" and they say "Ok".)

But, you should be getting a dunning letter (describing the amount of the debt and it's source, and settlement offers). At any rate, the Certified letter may come in handy if they decide to get nasty about it.

What if they never actually speak to you, do they still have to send the dunning letter within 5 days?

They have to send that letter to the debtor within 5 days of receiving the debt from the original creditor.

We have been receiving calls from Tate & Kirlin and also Portfolio Recovery but haven't received any letters from either of them unless they are affiliated with Arrow Financial. They don't leave any messages and I am not about to call them back for everything that I have read about them.

Well, and I speak very personally here, if you didn't leave a message, you didn't call. Not everyone cares about caller ID, and I personally challenge them to prove otherwise. "What? You called?"

"[U]nless they are affiliated with Arrow Financial" needs to be clarified, please.

We did receive a letter from Arrow Financial about a debt that is past the SOL so I wasn't sure if Tate & Kirlin or Portfolio Recovery are associated with Arrow and they are calling about this debt. I guess if they aren't and they really want us to know what they are calling about, they will send a letter or leave a message.

Are Tate & Kirlin and Porfolio Recovery one in the same?

I asked the same question about does the 5 days timeframe for the CA to send the dunning letter start when they first call you even if you don't answer the phone. And even if they leave a message.

General consensus was that the "initial contact" doesn't happen until they actually talk to you. So they could call everyday for two weeks and leave a message but not actually have to send out the dunning letter.

So what I did was let them leave a message. Then I call back and say I'm being called and want to know why. They go into their spiel and I just say I'll have to check my records once you send me your dunning letter.

At that point there is the initial contact and I just get off the phone. They have to send the dunning letter but since I know what account they are calling about I put the DV in the mail the next day to put a halt to their collections ASAP.