• Guest Writer -
    Debt Management – Dealing with Collectors

    While dealing with debt collection agencies is nothing any of us look forward to, it is sometimes necessary. Here are some useful reminders in helping to deal with them:-

    1. Know your Rights
    You always have a right to be treated with respect, fairly and have your privacy respected. You do not need to listen to any obscene language, threatened or be called names. You also have the right to dispute all or part of your debt, even though you may actually owe it. You can request that you not be disturbed at work, or at any time and place inconvenient to you. Finally, you can also request that no further attempts be made to contact you.

    2. Ask Questions
    Whenever dealing with debt collectors you should ask for the name of the caller and the name of the collection agency. You should ask for the address and fax number for corresponding with the agency and you can also ask for the name of the creditor and the amount the collector claims you owe.

    3. Maintain a File
    From the point of first contact with the debt collection agency you should maintain a file which records the dates and times of phone conversations or messages the collector leaves you. Include details such as the name of the individual and summary of the conversation.

    4. Document Dealings
    All that transpires between you and the agency should be followed up with a certified letter, return receipt requested, stating the same.

    5. Pay the Appropriate Party
    Make sure you are paying the right entity for perhaps your debt has been sold to the agency and any payments made to the creditor will therefore not be reflected in your account with them.

    6. Don’t be Coerced
    People sometimes pay a bill just because they want to avoid harassment. Do not do this as by making the payment you have acknowledged a debt that is not yours.

    7. Understand your Dues
    Make sure you carefully review, and agree with, the breakdown of your dues from the principal and interest to any late fees or charges.

    8. Complain when Appropriate
    If the debt collection agency has behaved inappropriately then you must complain to the appropriate authorities.

    9. Don’t Ignore
    Avoiding a problem rarely makes it go away and usually makes it worse. Make sure to attend and respond to all calls and correspondence of such agencies

    About the Author: Adam Heist has written many great articles on Loans. chasesaunders uk are playing a vital role these days. Visit our site now to find out why.


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1 Comments
On Aug 11, 2008, essstjames Said:
One of the advised debtor actions with Collection agencies was to ensure you are paying the correct entity since the debt may have been sold and creditor may not record payments to it on the account.

This is a loaded, but maybe impossible, piece of advise. How does one ensure the collection agency is the proper place to submit payments? Maybe a topic for exploration, if not already done.

In my case, I have submitted agree monthly repayment amounts at O% to one agency for my creditor for 3 years, and am nearing (within one month)total repayment And I suddenly, the last 6 months, got Notices of Claims from an unknown and never contacted agency for amounts that varied each notice and were grossly ($1K - 3K)erroneous based on my receipts. I checked out the agency through websites. It is listed and advertises, although highlghted as a junk debt buyer, with a history of penalties and fines for illegal tactics.

All that is listed in notices of clam are the company logo, area office to contact,the Creditor Company represented, claimed amount, and directive to pay it within a specific time, or else...\" Plus false statements \"You have not paid your debt and you debt is seriously in arrears\", etc.


How do you verify you are paying the right entity; whether the suspiciously ill-informed new company is the right entity, except for their claim to represent a creditor and have authority to collect a debt they cannot verify is accurate, when asked to substantiate it based on records of my complete payment history, which the agent states is not available and reiterates the erronous claim to be paid.


To me, I want validation of authority, but this apparantly is not entitled to the debtor (the secret transfer contract of my account) I want to see the contract, the name,office,address on the creditor representative who authorized/agreed to the transfer, the amount of the balance the collecter paid the creditor/the fee agreement to collect on the balance, the dated authorization by the Creditor to offer the debtor to pay 65% of total claimed to have the debt reported as paid in full to Credit Reporting Agencies.

Why would I ever respond to or contact a company (except Certified mail documenting Agent statement and my request/demands)that does not have a payment history and cannot substantiate the claim demanded, that does not indicate the terms of collection to be deducted/compounded (interest rate/collection fee/base amount to calculate/time-duration period compounded, ect)until total claim is made) and whose agent denies that his company purchased a \"write-Off\" debt and he is a \"salesman\" seeking to recoup the purchase amount paid and collect a commission.

To me, it appears One has to pay a lawyer additional dollars, to obtain simple information a collection agency feels it does not have to provide the debtor to validate it has sole authorization to collect any \"out of the air\" claimed money from anyone.