fleamop Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Hi all--I got a call from Curtis O Barnes regarding an old retail debt of about $600 (which fell off a dept repayment plan). They recently purchased this as a bad debt. My question is, since I cannot go back and pay the original creditor what I owe them. Should I try to settle on this? Do "junk debt buyers" often settle on small debts like this so they can get some money and move on? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokeinok Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 More details please, how long since you paid on it? Have they sent any correspondence? Have you sent a DV letter asking them to prove you have any legal obligation to pay them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleamop Posted December 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sorry for the lack of detail. I called the original creditor and it was charged off in May of 2006. I haven't paid since then. I'm in MN and I believe the SOL is 6 years. They haven't sent any correspondence. I received a call about two weeks ago and returned the call to the agent. She said that they had been trying to contact me several times (at a number which I haven't had for years). She basically said that if I didn't come up with a payment in about 3 days, I was pretty much gonna get served. I've heard that they have to send documentation within 5 days of initial contact. She has called me once since the first conversation. but I haven't received anything in writing. I'm not sure if they have my address. If this is the case, should I give them my address so they can send something?If they send me some form of documentation I will send a validation letter. I called the original creditor to verify the amount, and it is correct. Would it be better to just send them a validation letter without them initiating written contact?Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskinfan Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I got a call (phone message) from Curtis Barnes some time ago, I had no clue what the debt was, I DV'd them right away before I ever got a dunning letter and I have not heard from him since nor did I get anything in the mail from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokeinok Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Yes, send the validation letter and also check your credit reports to determine if they are listing this. I would dispute with the CRA's as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleamop Posted December 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks for the help. I'll send them a DV letter. I guess what I don't want is for this debt to keep getting sold from JDB to JDB. If they validate it, should I pay it, or, is there a way to approach them to settle on it? I want them to make as little money as possible from their investment in this debt, especially after reading about their practices, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokeinok Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Paying it will be a personal choice. Is it being reported to the CB's? Is it hurting your score? If not, then I wouldn't pay it unless forced to but that is your choice. The way these people break the law and treat people, in my opinion, they don't even deserve to collect pennies on the dollar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokeinok Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Whether or not they validate it will have no bearing on it getting sold over and over again. If they cannot validate it, they will most likely eventually sell to someone else and you'll have to start the DV process again with the new company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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