If they are legitimate, they are not allowed to call other people and disclose that you have a debt. If they are legitimate, they are also required to send you a verification of debt showing the amount owed, who the original creditor is among other things. (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). If you ARE served with papers via your local sheriff's dept, you must show up at the hearing, even if you can't afford a lawyer, otherwise a judgment will be granted against you to said legitimate company. Any time someone calls about a supposed debt you owe - THEY must document via snail mail - NOT email - what you owe. I could go on, but I know that Resident47 and others have posted what you should do in these cases many times. If the debt is legitimate, then yes, address it while you can. But always demand proof. There are many companies out there who can and do skirt the legally required steps, but they can be fined heavily for doing so.
This company is unbelievable....received a call yesterday regarding some rediculous file. The next thing I know they called other family members asking about me. These people need to be accountable for their actions. They are scum and should not be able to call people at all.
Well I thought this was a scam but I was wrong. Got served a month back and ended up having a judgment placed against me. This has cost me a lot more in the end, I wish I would have just dealt with this when I had the chance before it got this far. I just wanted people to know that they are legitimate and you are probably better off addressing it with them before it goes any further.
If they are legitimate, they are not allowed to call other people and disclose that you have a debt. If they are legitimate, they are also required to send you a verification of debt showing the amount owed, who the original creditor is among other things. (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). If you ARE served with papers via your local sheriff's dept, you must show up at the hearing, even if you can't afford a lawyer, otherwise a judgment will be granted against you to said legitimate company. Any time someone calls about a supposed debt you owe - THEY must document via snail mail - NOT email - what you owe. I could go on, but I know that Resident47 and others have posted what you should do in these cases many times. If the debt is legitimate, then yes, address it while you can. But always demand proof. There are many companies out there who can and do skirt the legally required steps, but they can be fined heavily for doing so.
You can afford an attorney. Under the FDCPA not only are u rewarded 1000 dollars for violations but the defendant is also responsible for ur attorneys fees. These [***] tried to sue me for debt that was past statue of limitations I paid to the orriganal creditor that somehow they purchased. Well me and my attorney showed up at the court for the hearing and they didn't even show up. So I won a default judgement against them. See they sue expecting u to be non knowing of the law so they can get a default judgement against u.