Just send them the money order anyway. They can not refuse to accept a payment from you. Check with a lawyer, some give free consultations, and they will tell you the same. You are trying to pay a debt and they can not refuse payment.

These people call all the time and it is amazing how when you pick up you can hear background noise but they do not answer you. Then the phone goes to a busy signal. I called them back and they would tell me to wait one minute and suddenly I was again listening to a rapid busy signal. After 5 calls they had the nerve to tell me that it is my phone. I am in bankrupcy and they still keep calling to discuss the debt and that is illegal. When I tell them they quickly hang up. Such stupid rude people.

[JCEMT]

Next time they call you (or you can call them) give them your attorney's name and contact information. Once they have it they are bound by law to contact only your attorney.

thank you for all the reports on this company. I have been receiving phone calls from this company, always when I'm not home. I have no outstanding bills, just did all three credit reports. Last month I talked to a rep and denied any responsiblity. I would not give them any info, not even an address (shouldn't they have my address, if it's legit?). Finally, after i got pretty mad, the rep said she was looking for someone else. Now the phone calls have started again. I'll call them once more and tell them to stop or I'll contact our state attorney general.

[unclewulf]

Send them a cease and desist letter, cm/rrr. After they get that, they are bound by law to stop calling.

[smo65d11]

I just found out that Focus was put on my Experian (and maybe the others as well, I haven't checked them in a month or so) report as of 5/1/08 for our last DirecTV bill that we haven't paid. I assumed we'd have a few months to pay it and we probably did, I didn't realize how long ago we had cancelled our DirecTV! So even though I do owe the debt, should I still send them a debt validation letter? Or should I just find a way to pay it now and try to bargain for a deletion from my credit reports?

[drburr]

Always do the DV letter, it is your protection against scam companies that buy settled debts.

Then call them and offer payment (do not agree to pay until they agree to take it off your credit, and record the call)

[smo65d11]

Do I wait to receive the offer in writing before I pay them?

And can I insist on sending a check or money order? I don't like to give credit card info over the phone.

[drburr]

Yes on both questions. You can request that they email you the written offer, tell them it will expedite the process. Do not send them a check, only ever send them a money order. I may be paranoid, but once they have your check, they have your account information. Unscrupulous (and what CA's aren't?) companies can then turn around and use that to generate an electronic check to take the money they want from your bank. I have even gone so far as to pay extra to get a money order from a Currency Exchange, the USPS, or a different bank (mine gives them free to account holders), because I don't want them to even know where I bank (they may be able to bribe someone in the bank's system to give them the account info).

Like I said, paranoid...

[smo65d11]

I like to say "careful" ... not paranoid!

[drburr]

Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!

Stop F-ing Calling please, I do not know where you got your sources, but should one call again, stating for me to give my information an a "Debt" that is bullshit, I will call the FCC, and FBI for Froud.

[smo65d11]

Follow up on my Focus interactions ... I sent a debt validation letter to Focus, no response, disputed to all 3 credit reporting agencies and Focus was removed from all 3 of them within a few days. Still no contact from Focus, and no new action from any new companies on my credit file either. Eeeriiiiieeee!

We have no delinquent accounts. There is no reason for you to be calling us.

[unclewulf]

Evenin' Guest -

We are not Focus Receivable Management, nor are we associated with them in any way whatsoever. We are an online community of consumer advocates whose purpose is to help people get a handle on financial problems.

If Focus is calling you for an account that you're certain is not yours, step one is to tell tham that on the phone, and ask that they remove your number from their database.

If that doesn't work, step two is to send them a cease-and-desist letter, advising them not to contact you at all, for any reason. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep the little green card you get back as proof that they got it. You may need it for step three, which is legal action if needed.

Have a pleasant evening.

I receive calls about 2x/ day from this co. And now I receive a letter from them. I never return call to them cause I am waiting for the debt management Co. we signed to help negotiate our accounts. Is it okay to send them a letter to acknowledge that I receive the letter and their calls and let them, know that we have enrolled in this debt management program. This might stop them to contact us further.