October 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment
Q. A Collection Agency who is contacting me about a debt is telling me they were assigned to collect it and did not purchase it, not sold. Is there a difference between being assigned or sold? Should I care?
A. This question generally is asked because a consumer is unsure how to respond to […]
Popularity: 18% [?]
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Tags: Credit Counselor Front Lines · Debt Collection · I'm being sued!
Collection agencies are starting to pull all sorts of tricks out of their little black bags. A reader recently wrote about the unbelievable situation where NCO, a large collection agency, sent a soldier’s Commanding Officer a “letter of debt” informing the CO of the soldier’s collection account. It’s true that the military […]
Popularity: 16% [?]
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Tags: Consumer Debt · Debt Collection
Many people are really worried when an account goes in to collections, meaning a credit card company has decided to charge off your debt due to non-payment. Sure, now you have two big negative marks on your credit report, but I’m going to make a statement now that may seem counter-intuitive: once something gets […]
Popularity: 41% [?]
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Tags: Consumer Debt · Credit Repair · Debt Collection
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), it’s your right to request that a collection agency cease communication with you; a right granted/protected by FDCPA Section 805(c). (It’s called a Cease and Desist Letter or C&D among us credit repair junkies) Basically, it does what it sounds like: forbids a collection agency […]
Popularity: 44% [?]
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Tags: Debt Collection
It’s what I’ve told my clients about 1000 times…don’t panic when a collection agency sues you. You can EASILY beat it.
From the blog of a Michigan attorney:
I love defending people against debt buyers because the Plaintiffs case is as strong as a house of cards in a hurricane. Debt buyers buy judgments, credit card […]
Popularity: 19% [?]
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Tags: Credit Counselor Front Lines · I'm being sued!
I received the initial letter on 2/18/08, but this played out nicely and thought I would share as it is a good reason why the consumer should NEVER roll over to a collection agency.
I’ve posted all the updates.
“Three years ago I switched cell phone providers. I am fairly sure I settled up with the old […]
Popularity: 14% [?]
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Tags: I'm suing those guys!
It frequently amazes me how many people will call me and say ” I’ve got a lawyer and they recommend doing so-and-so, but I wanted to check with you first.”
Huh?? I’m not a lawyer, and I can spout case law right and left - but I have no experience defending anyone in court and […]
Popularity: 6% [?]
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Tags: Credit Counselor Front Lines
Since they are losing their shirts these days, Citibank is really getting very aggresive with past-due accounts. They skirt the FDCPA by owning collection agencies, so when a Citibank collection agency calls, they can do whatever they want.
My latest client is being sued by Citibank for a $19K debt from 2004 that with fees […]
Popularity: 8% [?]
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Tags: Credit Bureaus and Scores · I'm being sued!
Too bad, so sad…
See, even though people don’t really believe the FDCPA is an effective weapon, if you violate it, the FTC will come knowing on your door. A collection agency working on behalf of small businesses got into some big trouble (to the tune of $3.4 million!)with the FTC for representing itself […]
Popularity: 5% [?]
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Tags: Credit Bureaus and Scores