DV verification
Date: Sat, 08/08/2009 - 21:13
Dear sir or madam:
Please see attached information, Sincerely_________. Then at the bottom it has the usual this is from a debt collector.
The only other thing they sent me was a copy of the contract I signed with the original creditor. I know I owe this debt, but I was wanting something to show me how they got the amount they say I owe, which is almost $3,000 more than what the original creditor said I owed. Also I am on disability and and there is no way I can pay this.
I don't know what else to do, I don't want to wake up one morning to a sherrif knocking on my door giving me a summons to court and freaking out my autistic son. This is the third CA to have this debt. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
call them and ask them. ask them what the principle amount was
call them and ask them. ask them what the principle amount was and what charges have accrued since they received the account. furthermore tell them about your situation, be prepared to support it with awards letters etc, proving your income. then ask them for arrangements.....
ok, first, dont panic. it is common for debt collectors to send
ok, first, dont panic. it is common for debt collectors to send you less than proper validation of a disputed debt.
Now, when you said they sent you a copy of the cardholder agreement, does this copy have your signature on it, or is it a blank one? If it's blank, then they didnt provide you with anything. Proper validation should show three things:
1--that the debt is legitimately yours.
2--that they are legally entitled to collect on this debt.
3--how they arrived at the amount they claim you owe.
If any of those three things is missing, then they havent validated the debt properly. If thats the case, send them another certified letter stating that you previously requested validation of this debt, and that they have not satisfied the requirements for validation. Inform them that they are bound by the FDCPA to properly validate a disputed debt, and until they do, they cannot make any collection efforts against you, including any legal action, settlement offer letters, or reporting on your credit reports.
If they sent you a copy of the contract with your signature on it, but nothign else. inform them that you still disapute the amount they claim as owed, and that they are still bound by the FDCPA to properly validate their claims regarding this debt.