I found out where her horse ranch was and I will get her back....

Seriously? Wouldn't you rather be the bigger person and just shrug it off as someone with bad phone manner? Way to be an adult about everything

I had quite the dealing with them.

I Identity was stolen and some looser from that office was playing me like I owed the money.

I found out where her horse ranch was and I will get her back....

they are losers with no self respect. The whole lot of them....

"I hereby present the offer to pay a lump sum of $1000 towards my debt owed (account #: xxxxxxxx) directly through online banking on May 6, 2010. Please reply by mail if you are willing to accept this offer."

It's the above wording that you should avoid adding to your letter. Right there you've just acknowledged the debt, which might in turn reset the limitation period. Have the C/A present the above offer to you in writing.. Verbal acknowledgement of the debt won't reset the limitation period, so if your inclinced persent your offer to them over the phone and indicate that THEY should lay out those terms in a written settlement offer.

There is an example of a Cease & Desist letter in the thread at this link:

/threadview/2838.html

I am sure there are a few others as well.

You guys are awesome, thanks so much!

If I want to send a letter barring all phone calls and only wishing contact by mail, are there any legal terms I should throw in there to make a statement? Or just a generic letter like this...(I know C/A's do not use their real names, so I don't think I should be addressing them by name)

To whom this may concern,

This letter is to inform you that I will only accept contact from your place of business by letter mail from the date of this letter. I will not accept phone calls on my cell phone, my home phone, nor at my place of employment. If these calls continue, I will be forced to report this to the appropriate offices in government.

I hereby present the offer to pay a lump sum of $1000 towards my debt owed (account #: xxxxxxxx) directly through online banking on May 6, 2010. Please reply by mail if you are willing to accept this offer.

Feedback would be appreciated...and again, you guys are great! It's been so difficult to find any sort of information on thei subject, except for this message boards!!

Oh and if you do decide to settle the account, personally I wouldn't pay anything over $1000 to settle the $4000 debt.

C/A=Collection Agency

The whole purpose they harrass you is to make you believe you have no options other than to pay and stress you out. Once you realize it is all a joke, and their threats to sue you (which sometimes include fake court documents that are stamped "draft") are ridiculous....they have lost their edge.

Thanks again, you are very helpful!! I was getting so stressed out and frustrated, but now that I know I have options, I'm feeling much better! What is a C/A? Certified Accountant? Just guessing here...

Yes, Stats Barr means they can not sue you and they have absolutely no legal recourse. Therefore, if you pay them now, it will LOOK BETTER on your credit report as it will state the account is PAID, but that is all.....it will still be a negative on your credit report until it drops off in 2 years (the same time as if you didn't pay).

Are you going to apply for any credit in the next two years, it may help a little to pay but that is up to the creditor you are applying with.

In all honesty, you are probably better off to not pay and put that $2000 into a secure credit card and work to improve your score that way....it would be more beneficial to you.

Also, follow O.C. suggestion to have the C/A draft the letter.....but only after reminding them the account is stats barr, if you decide to pay.

You might want to exercise caution with drafting out your payment proposal and mailing it down their way. The last thing you want to do is accidently acknowledge that debt and reset the clock.

If I were in your shoes, I'd have the C/A draft a settlement letter based off of your verbal payment proposal and send that down your way instead. If they refuse, then do as D.B.G. suggested and remind them that the debt is stats barred and thus they should take you to court so that them matter can be put to rest once and for all. ... Essentially your telling them here's my offer, take it or leave it!

O.C.