do i have to pay the collection agency

You can try to deal with the original creditor, sometimes they will deal with you sometimes not. It is worth asking at least.

2 words. debt consolidation. Hook up with a good debt consolidation company and put all your unsecured debtin the program. This will do 2 things for you: 1. serve as a buffer between you and your creditors/collection agencies and 2. give you one monthly payment you can afford. :wink:

Hi

Under the laws, you can arrange payments with the credit companies if they have not sold off your accounts to any CA. Explain your problems about dealing with the CA to your creditor and they might pull back the accounts.

But if your accounts have been sold, you will only have to arrange payments with the collection agency. Remember, the collection agency has to identify in legal terms that about being authorized to collect the debt from you. The fdcpa laws require the CAs to send the details of the debt in writing obtained from your original creditor. If they are not able to give this information in writing, you have the legal rights to refuse payment and hence prevent your money from going into wrong hands.

The original creditor will be willing to work with you if your account info is with them. You need to offer a realistic payment plan and your account will be taken back from the CA hired for the purpose.

You have an absolute right to deal with your creditor directly. Unless they've told you in writing to deal with someone else, any payments you make to someone else may not be credited to your account with the creditor and you'll still be on the hook to them for nonpayment. In Virginia, and I think this is true in most states, tender of payment by a definite means (i.e., cash, cashier's check, certified check or money order) is the same as payment, even if the creditor refuses to accept it. Watch out for cash, though, only those denominations of currency marked "legal tender" have to be accepted - not all sizes of bills are "legal tender". The theory is that if you refuse to accept a payment in cash or something that's as good as cash, you've waived the payment.

I have asked them for Validation of a debt and they sent me an Acceptance cert. but it did not have my correct SS# on it..the SOL expires in 2 months and they keep contacting me...what should I do if anything?

return the certificate along with your validation request stating this is not validation.also point out the ss# is not correct.send them the same way CMRRR.

In making payments to a Collection Agency, should I send them a personal check or a money order? I have heard that once they have you banking info, they can bleed your account dry! Any direction will be great.

In making payments to a Collection Agency, should I send them a personal check or a money order? I have heard that once they have you banking info, they can bleed your account dry! Any direction will be great.

Daddysgirl...I think your question itself gives the answer...personally, I would never give a CA access or info to my personal accounts...send them a money order...that way your account is safe...

money orders.btw do you have an agreement with a CA?

In making payments to a Collection Agency, should I send them a money order cashiers check, or certified check? I have heard that once they have you banking info, they can bleed your account dry! Any direction will be great

What can a collection agency do if they contact me and I refuse to pay, and send them a letter telling them to leave me along?

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It's against the law for a collection agency to draw out funds from your account that you have not authorized. However, that does not prevent some of the more shady companies from doing it. If you feel unsure about the company I would advise you send a money order.

I am in agreement with Fyi on payment methods. I had two collections in error that I paid over the phone with zero trouble & were nice enough to not report to credit bureau as well as send me a paid in full letter. The shadier ones I would sned them a money order only.

To answer to the question once the acct is with an agency...then client can't talk to you anymore legally...so you do have to deal with the agencyQuote:

However, you need to confirm the debt by demanding proper debt validation from the collection agencies before setting up any payment arrangement with them.

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