counter offer to collection agency

If the attorney is collecting on behalf of the OC, it is fine to send it to them. If you want to cover all your bases, send it to BOTH with a note in each letter that you are sending to both. That way everyone is on the same page.

Be sure whatever agreement you reach, that it is done in writing before you make any payment.

I was in a debt settlement (Hess/Kennedy) that was shut down, so my creditors had not been paid for months. This creditor was 6K when payments were stopped and now the attorney office states I owe 85K and are willing to settle for 64K. I'm not sure what a fair counter offer would be. Any advice?

I wrote the wrong figures. Attorney states I owe 8.5K and will settle for 6.4K.

It went from 6 thousand to 85 thousand or is that a typo?? If that is no typo then that is a HUGE difference..even if it was 65 thou and went to 85 thou that is still a big difference. Have you DVed the account to see where all that insane extra money is coming from?

from 8.5k to 6.4k.not a bad start,but if you can pay it see if they can break it into payments.if not DV them then wait to see if they do before accepting this or any other offer.

this offer was in response to the DV letter I sent them. Not sure if they properly verified. They state they verified balance with the creditor to be true, correct, and still owing. Absolutely cannot pay that especially since I will have to be doing this with my other creditors.

sounds like they validated nothing.have them produce something with your signature from the original creditor.it sounds like they just typed a letter stating that.am i right?then that is not validation at all.re-send your validation letter,and let them know you are aware of what validation is.

They stated they wanted this matter resolved by Jan8, 2009.
So I should send another DV letter?

I will send another DV and I guess I shouldn't comment on their settlement offer.

it's not about commenting.it's just that they never validated this.the fact that they want it resolved so quickly raises questions to me.yes re-send the validation CMRRR.

Thank you very much for your input. They have the letter dated Dec 23, 2008 and like I said want it resolved by Jan 8.

I also am feeling very worried and afraid of the things I have read about this attorney's office on this site. Thanks again.

Paul, Are you still around? I am getting the second DV letter prepared and realized it hasn't been 30 days since they received my request, but they responded with the date to be resolved as Jan 8. Should I wait the 30 days before sending another DV letter and just disregard the date they said on the counter offer letter?