Got a "this is an attempt to collect a debt..." letter but not from a CA; is it different process?

[lostdesperatesoul]

Hi, new here and to current situation, and need some advice about it.

I very recently got a letter from a firm stating that "This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. This communication is from a debt collector." Other contents of the letter include "Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, this office will assume the debt is valid. If you notify this office in writing within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, this office will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of any judgment and mail you a copy of such verification or judgment. Upon your written request of this office within 30 days after receipt of this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different form the current creditor." They state that they are a firm, but still acting as a debt collector. Would this be an entirely different process now?

I have read up as much as I can with the search function here and with web searches. From some posts on here, I should be starting a debt validation as stated in the letter but I am not entirely sure on how to write one up. I unfortunately cannot afford to go to a lawyer or to someone with the expertise in working with such situations nor am I acquainted with anyone who can help me or give me advice on this; there is also a post that I came upon on here that stated that the debt validation letter template that is being shared should not be shared but I am now confused on how to write up the debt validation letter to be mailed out.

I do apologize in advance if my kind of post has been answered numerous times. If there are any similar posts that any of the members here think sound similar to my situation and if it's not too much of a burden, please do share them with me. My mind is just all over the place stressing about this and I am just lost on where to start and how. Thank you so much in advance.

[BackFromTheDebt]

30 minutes ago, lostdesperatesoul said:

Hi, new here and to current situation, and need some advice about it.

I very recently got a letter from a firm stating that "This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. This communication is from a debt collector." Other contents of the letter include "Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, this office will assume the debt is valid. If you notify this office in writing within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, this office will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of any judgment and mail you a copy of such verification or judgment. Upon your written request of this office within 30 days after receipt of this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different form the current creditor." They state that they are a firm, but still acting as a debt collector. Would this be an entirely different process now?

I have read up as much as I can with the search function here and with web searches. From some posts on here, I should be starting a debt validation as stated in the letter but I am not entirely sure on how to write one up. I unfortunately cannot afford to go to a lawyer or to someone with the expertise in working with such situations nor am I acquainted with anyone who can help me or give me advice on this; there is also a post that I came upon on here that stated that the debt validation letter template that is being shared should not be shared but I am now confused on how to write up the debt validation letter to be mailed out.

I do apologize in advance if my kind of post has been answered numerous times. If there are any similar posts that any of the members here think sound similar to my situation and if it's not too much of a burden, please do share them with me. My mind is just all over the place stressing about this and I am just lost on where to start and how. Thank you so much in advance.

Dear X,

I dispute this debt and demand validation.

 

Yours,

You  

 

 

Don't sign it by hand.  You don't want them to have your signature.

Best to send this CMRRR.  If they try to collect the debt before validation, that is illegal.  

[lostdesperatesoul]

16 minutes ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

Dear X,

I dispute this debt and demand validation.

 

Yours,

You  

 

 

Don't sign it by hand.  You don't want them to have your signature.

Best to send this CMRRR.  If they try to collect the debt before validation, that is illegal.  

Should I mention in this same letter that I want all correspondence to be made via (snail) mail? I know I should be starting to record everything and have a paper trail so to say.
Also, should I be just including my name after the "Yours," part? Should I even be including other information like something like:

"Yours,

Name
Address

Account information"

 

Thank you so much by the way! Sorry for adding on another question. I am most definitely just being too anxious about this, so apologies.

Edited June 23, 2021 by lostdesperatesoul
Wanted to include another question

[BV80]

1 hour ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

Dear X,

I dispute this debt and demand validation.

 

Yours,

You  

 

 

Don't sign it by hand.  You don't want them to have your signature.

Best to send this CMRRR.  If they try to collect the debt before validation, that is illegal.  

Perfect letter.  ?

[lostdesperatesoul]

Just coming back to this but I was trying to research some more one this so that I could at least know ahead of time of what my next step would be, etc. etc. but I came across this during my search Link: https://www.avoidbk.com/debt-validation-letter/

Admittedly, this has made me more anxious. Any thoughts on this? Are these valid points or is this a reverse psychology type of scare tactic or something messed up along those lines?

[BackFromTheDebt]

1 hour ago, lostdesperatesoul said:

Just coming back to this but I was trying to research some more one this so that I could at least know ahead of time of what my next step would be, etc. etc. but I came across this during my search Link: https://www.avoidbk.com/debt-validation-letter/

Admittedly, this has made me more anxious. Any thoughts on this? Are these valid points or is this a reverse psychology type of scare tactic or something messed up along those lines?

I’m not going to waste my time reading what some random person on the internet says. 
 

Seriously, there is a lot of bad stuff out there.  I used to use some of those templates, and over a decade ago so did others on this site.  
 

Eventually we all learned from hundreds or thousands of DV letters. Those templates are worthless. All they do is make the creditors laugh at you.  
 

The sample DV letter I sent does everything.  It fits the FDCPA 100%.  
 

Simple is better.  

[ktigs]

On 6/23/2021 at 3:07 PM, BackFromTheDebt said:

Dear X,

I dispute this debt and demand validation.

 

Yours,

You  

 

 

Don't sign it by hand.  You don't want them to have your signature.

Best to send this CMRRR.  If they try to collect the debt before validation, that is illegal.  

Hey! Question? That's it for the letter? Short and direct? I need to send one to PRA this week:

 

To Whom it May Concern:

 

 

 

I dispute this debt and demand validation. 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

xxxxxxx

[BV80]

21 minutes ago, ktigs said:

Hey! Question? That's it for the letter? Short and direct? I need to send one to PRA this week:

 

To Whom it May Concern:

 

 

 

I dispute this debt and demand validation. 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

xxxxxxx

That’s it.  However, in the header of your letter, I would include the account number of the collection account so they know the debt your letter is referencing,

Example:

RE:  Account #12345

[ktigs]

Just now, BV80 said:

That’s it.  However, in the header of your letter, I would include the account number of the collection account so they know the debt your letter is referencing,

Example:

RE:  Account #12345

For sure! Thanks!

[BackFromTheDebt]

In the old days, when debt collectors were often scared of arbitration, I would always include a second sentence:

”If the underlying contract has an arbitration provision I hereby elect arbitration”.  
 

That would often scare them off back when they had no idea what to do about arbitration.  I had a number of debt collectors, and even some of the biggest name debt collection law firms, run away when I included that line. 
 

 

These days not so much. They aren’t scared of arbitration anymore. 
 

 If the contract has an arbitration provision, it doesn’t hurt to put in a sentence like that.  These days it is rare that it will actually help you.  

[ktigs]

On 7/14/2021 at 9:25 PM, BackFromTheDebt said:

In the old days, when debt collectors were often scared of arbitration, I would always include a second sentence:

”If the underlying contract has an arbitration provision I hereby elect arbitration”.  
 

That would often scare them off back when they had no idea what to do about arbitration.  I had a number of debt collectors, and even some of the biggest name debt collection law firms, run away when I included that line. 
 

 

These days not so much. They aren’t scared of arbitration anymore. 
 

 If the contract has an arbitration provision, it doesn’t hurt to put in a sentence like that.  These days it is rare that it will actually help you.  

I have the letter ready to send. PRA has 2 different addresses to send to. The company address and a separate one for disputes. Should I send the debt validation to corporate?