Another question for collectors in the group
Date: Fri, 01/06/2006 - 19:50
The reason I am asking is because I would like to get the viewpoint of this from the collectors stand point. I only mail out validation request for accounts that I am not sure on. So far in the past I have gotten three responses (the rest have went silent with me never hearing another word from them) and they've all been the same.
The word, "verification" is used, not "validation". And every time, its been a copy of the last six payments made on the accounts. One of the people that responded with this was a lawyer. I was making payments to the original creditor already--had been for several months, got the letter in the mail from them, didn't know who they were--asked for validation, they sent me copy of last six payments...I wrote them back, told them that I was already making payments to OC, then not long after that, lawyers carted me off to court and I was making payments to the original creditor the whole time.
My point is that the 'validation' that I asked for from the "LAWYER" was sent in the form of the last six payments made on the account. That was the only information provided. This was their version of the word 'validation'. And I'm wondering if a lawyer does this, then it must be legal???
Two others have responded with this same thing. so do you ever get what you truly ask for...all the info that is in a validation letter? has anyone here ever gotten the full info? or is it always the last six payments??
thanks for all opinions and input on this one! shirley
Thanks a lot Shirley for bringing this issue up in the forums. S
Thanks a lot Shirley for bringing this issue up in the forums. Some of the posts in this forum state that collectors should provide you all the records of the account. Also they should show some documentation that proves they have the right to collect the account.
However, I think, all the collection agencies set some guidelines for their own and think that is the right one. Shirley, please go through this topic here posted by one from collection industry.
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/forums/howto-validate.html
I see lots of people from collection industry here in this forum. Hope they will be able to put some more light on this matter.
When you owe some money to your original creditor and have faile
When you owe some money to your original creditor and have failed to complete the payments, some collection agency will come into picture and recover money from you. How will you know that this collection agency is actually authorized by the creditor to collect money from you? You need to think deeply before you pay to any collection agency. To be sure that this collection agency is entitled to get money from you, they should provide you the copies of the legal documents you signed with your creditor. This will prove that your creditor has assigned them to collect the money.
Besides, the actual amount of debt also needs to be furnished in the details. The amount of money received so far towards this account is a part of the debt validation procedure but not the complete procedure. You should be given the accounting details of the debt including the interests and fees. Based on these details, you can review whether the fees and interest charged are at all legitimate.
When you are analyzing the deep facts, one thing can come in your mind. Make yourself sure that you owed money to the mentioned creditor only and not some other creditor for which this collection agency has been hired. Ask the collection agency to prove that they have been hired to collect debt for your creditors whom you thought and not anyone else.
Think of all these facts when you type a debt validation letter. You will have an easier time in framing the letter when you are writing to some collection agency.
