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.
It's a legitimate company. I had a debt that was owed(approx $2400), but we worked out a deal so that I would only pay $1800 over 6 months. I received notification via mail of it being paid off in full and would be indicated as such on my credit report. So instead of it just looking like an unpaid loss to the credit card company it now shows I made the effort and paid off the debt in full which raised my credit score.
Nice try, but the fact remains that NO one should pay ANY debt collector a dime until a legitimate notice of validation has been received by mail. NOT e-mail or fax. As per federal regulations under the FDCPA.
If this, or any other, collection outfit calls & it is your first contact with them they have 5 business days to provide you with that notice of validation. If they refuse, or fail to provide that notice (by MAIL ONLY) they are at best zombie/junk debt collectors attempting to collect on a debt they know to be time-barred or invalid. At worst, they're just low-life, pitiful frauds!
Believe NOTHING you're told on the phone. EVER! If written proof of a collectors claim is not in front of, having been MAILED to you, ignore the collector. If a notice of validation is mailed to you, VERIFY everything on it before you pay one red cent. If you contest a collectors claim, return a letter to them (by certified/return receipt mail) to the return address on the notice you received within 30 days, DEMANDING a full, complete letter of validation.
Know your rights as a consumer under the FDCPA. It's easy, just Google it.
Be Safe. Be Aware.
Gunnar
I just received a call from 716-362-0363, very persistant male from Eastpoint Group wanted me to give a very important message to my spouse because of a serious law suit, thank for this psotings I was able toI tell him where to go, He e is not getting a penny from us.
Bloody thieves! Beware everyone.