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What to do when a debt collector calls. If a debt collector calls you, ask for and write down the following information: the agent's name. the company they work for. the name of the company they are collecting money for. the debt collector’s telephone number. Ask for details on the debt, such as: the amount you owe.
- Find out who’s calling. Get the name of the collector, the collection company, its address, and phone number.
- Get “validation” information about the debt. Within 5 days of first contacting you, debt collectors must “validate” or tell you the amount of the debt, the name of the current creditor, and how to get the name of the original creditor.
- Don’t respond to threats. When scammers threaten to arrest you, suspend your driver’s license, or call your employer if you don’t pay immediately, hang up and report the collector to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Do your own detective work. Check with the original creditor. Is the debt yours? Did they sell your debt or hire a company to collect it? If so, is the caller the original creditor’s collector?
Aug 13, 2024 · A legitimate collection agency will have all the details about your overdue debt, including the type of debt, who the creditor is, how much the debt is, when you started falling behind on your payments, and what the interest rate is, among others. If the debt collector is not able to provide you with any of these details, it’s most likely a scam.
- You will receive a written notice before a debt collector contacts you to collect the outstanding debt. The notice will include the collection agen...
- It’s important to get familiar with the signs of a fraudulent debt collector so you can avoid giving them personal information. If you’re contacted...
- Collection agencies can be persistent, despite your efforts to ignore their calls. While it’s possible that they may give up after a while, there’s...
- The collection agency can call your employer, but only for the purposes of getting your telephone number and address or to confirm your employment....
Mar 15, 2024 · Or call 1-888-863-8657 and verify the CRA did actually contact you. A debt collector calls you, says you owe money and demands repayment by wire transfer, rather than by cheque or online. The debt collector only allows you to make repayment through a wire transfer and doesn’t give other options.
Say you don’t owe some or all of the money, and ask for verification of the debt. Make sure to send the dispute letter within 30 days. Once the collection company gets the letter, it must stop trying to collect the debt until it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of the original bill for the amount you owe.
Aug 17, 2023 · Debt Collector Red Flag #3: The Caller Asks for Immediate Payment by Money Transfer or Prepaid Card. Debt Collector Red Flag #4: The Caller Threatens To Reveal Your Debt to Others. Debt Collector Red Flag #5: You Get the Call Before or After Business Hours or Get Repeated Calls. Debt Collector Red Flag #6: The Caller Asks for Personal ...
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Sep 16, 2024 · The name of the creditor. The amount owed. The procedure to dispute the debt. If a collector withholds this information or fails to provide it immediately, this may be a sign of a scam. Even if it ...
