Don't provide personal or sensitive financial information Never give out or confirm personal or sensitive financial information – such as your bank account, credit card, or full Social Security number – unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector.
Don't Give a Collector Your Personal Financial Information
bank account numbers (unless you're actually making a payment—even then you might want to pay by some other method so the collector doesn't get your banking information) your Social Security number, or. the amount or value of property that you own.
If you are struggling with debt and debt collectors, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. As soon as you use the 11-word phrase “please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately” to stop the harassment, call us for a free consultation about what you can do to resolve your debt problems for good.
Debt collectors cannot make false or misleading statements. For example, they cannot lie about the debt they are collecting or the fact that they are trying to collect debt, and they cannot use words or symbols that falsely make their letters to you seem like they're from an attorney, court, or government agency.
A debt collector is also not allowed to harass, oppress, or abuse you or anyone else they contact. This includes repetitious phone calls with the intent to harass, use of obscene or profane language, and threats of violence or harm.
Here is a list of examples of how debt collectors can violate FDCPA rules: Use of threat, violence or other criminal means to harm a person, reputation or property. Use of obscene or profane language. False representation that the debt collector represents a state or federal government.
The 609 dispute letter is often referred to as the “legal loophole”, or the “credit repair secret' and can be useful in different situations. Apart from correcting your credit report, the 609 letter could be what you need to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.
The debt trap is a situation where you've been forced to take on more borrowings in order to pay off your existing debts. Eventually, you're stuck in a situation where the debt spirals out of control and exceeds your capacity to pay it off.
A debt trap means the inability to repay credit amount. It is a situation where the debtor could not be able to repay the credit amount.
By paying the collection agency directly, the notification of the debt could stay on your credit report longer than if you attempt to use another option, like filing for bankruptcy. When institutions check your credit report and see this information on it, it may harm your ability to obtain loans.
If you don't respond in time, the judge is likely to enter a default judgment against you. This means you lose the case and the creditor has access to collection measures like wage garnishment or a bank account levy. They may also be able to put a lien on your property.
Let's Summarize... If you're facing debt collection, it's important to understand how the process works and what options you have. If you ignore a debt in collections, you can be sued and have your bank account or wages garnished or may even lose property like your home. You'll also hurt your credit score.
A request that a creditor or collection agency cease calls at work can be verbal or written. Here is the general rule: If you want a creditor or collection agency to stop contacting you at work, you must send them a letter in writing!
If the debt collector receives your request within 30 days after you receive their written notice about the debt, they must stop trying to collect the debt until they provide written verification of the debt to you.
I am writing this letter to bring to your notice the following information added to my credit report. The [dispute item] along with the [creditor's name] are falsely added to my credit report without my prior knowledge. The mentioned details are incorrect and I request you to revise the report after due diligence.
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't spend more than 10 percent of your take-home income on credit card debt.
The letter requests an investigation into the disputed information under Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), aiming to correct errors and ensure the accuracy of the credit report. This process allows individuals to address and rectify any inaccuracies that may impact their creditworthiness.
The truth is that there are no magic words to stop a debt collector from collecting the debt. In case you are wondering what the 11 word phrase to stop debt collectors is supposed to be its “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately.”
Someone who lacks a credit history with one of the nationwide credit reporting companies is considered "credit invisible" or a credit ghost. "Unscored" consumers have a credit file, but the data is too sparse or too old to produce a credit score.
If you spot wrong account numbers, mismarked payments, or unfamiliar accounts, dispute away. Include solid evidence like bank statements proving the errors.
Once you receive the validation information or notice from the debt collector during or after your initial communication with them, you have 30 days to dispute all or part of the debt, if you don't believe that you owe it. If you receive a validation notice, the end date of the 30-day period will be specified.
Importantly, people can sue debt collectors who break the law by lying or providing wrong information. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the administrator and a primary enforcer of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. We are committed to making sure that debt collectors follow the law.