Thanks for the info. I did give him my email address but have not opened it yet because I am at work. About 4 yrs ago, husb and I experienced some financial hardship. This year, I have been trying to pay back what was owed, one at a time. I am making progress, however, it's a slow road. The fact that I called this company back, shows that I am interested in paying, if it valid. The collectors I have been working with and have worked with have all been kind and willing to work with me. These guys are rude and demeaning...
Asked for me by name. I refused to confirm, asked where'd they were calling from, they said Denver CO. I asked what company. They said ARC. I asked what company is that? They asked for my name again. I hung up
Rec'd 2 calls this morning from this ARG collection agency. Spoke to a Mike Winston. Asked him to send me a validation letter. He said it was already sent in February 2014. Told him I never rec'd it and would like another one sent. He put me on hold and had his supervisor on the line who was very rude and demanding. I told him the same thing, to please re send me the validation letter. He refused, saying they had already sent it. I asked him why he was speaking to me in that tone when I had called back, and was speaking very calmly and clearly. He kept beliitling me. I told him I am requesting a validation letter and by law he is required to send it to me. He said to check my facts on the law, and because they had already sent it and I had not responded within the 30 days, they are not legally responsible to send me another one, and to pay up!!
Then he asked me for my email so could get the letter to me immediately.
And they called me on my work issued cel phone!
As you seem to know, the WRITTEN, snailmailed "validation notice" must be sent to you within 5 days of original contact.
If there is a dispute about your receiving / not receiving that snailmailed letter, THEY must provide the USPS documentation showing attempts to deliver the certified mail.
Meanwhile, if you wish, YOU can send a certified snailmail to that company (if they provided a snailmail address)
IF you wish to communicate with the supposed collector / creditor, visit the following page, for example "Action Letters" to snailmail:
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/debtcollection/
Thanks for the info. I did give him my email address but have not opened it yet because I am at work. About 4 yrs ago, husb and I experienced some financial hardship. This year, I have been trying to pay back what was owed, one at a time. I am making progress, however, it's a slow road. The fact that I called this company back, shows that I am interested in paying, if it valid. The collectors I have been working with and have worked with have all been kind and willing to work with me. These guys are rude and demeaning...
This ARC even had us as a refusal to pay. How could I have refused to pay when I never got the validation letter to begin with. The letter they said they sent me in February was a debt collectors letter, not a validation notice correct? A validation letter is one that the consumer requests?