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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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