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May 14, 2024 · A legitimate debt collector can tell you their company name and mailing address, as well as information about the debt they say you owe. The debt collector should provide information about themselves and their collection agency. This can be a helpful way to know more about the debt, as well as tell whether or not it’s a scam.
- Debt Collector Red Flag #1: They Don’t Identify Themselves. The first thing you can do to determine if the debt collection company contacting you is legitimate is request information about the caller.
- Debt Collector Red Flag #2: You’re Contacted About a Debt, but You Haven’t Received Prior Notice by Mail. If you have a legitimate debt that has been sent to a collection agency, the agency must send a formal written notice to your mailing address either before or within five days after the first call.
- Debt Collector Red Flag #3: The Caller Asks for Immediate Payment by Money Transfer or Prepaid Card. There are three ways scammers like to move money from your bank account to theirs
- Debt Collector Red Flag #4: The Caller Threatens To Reveal Your Debt to Others. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that prohibits creditors and debt collectors from threatening to tell others — including family members, co-workers, employers, or friends — about the debt they claim you owe.
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.
Apr 12, 2023 · 1. The collector or agency asks for sensitive information that they should already know. Scammers commonly ask you to “confirm” your name, address, SSN, or banking details. Not only is this information that legitimate debt collectors should already know — giving it up can put you at risk of identity theft.
Jul 15, 2024 · A legitimate debt collector should be able to provide: Their full name and company information. A license number (if required in your state) A debt validation notice within five days of contacting you. You can validate a debt collector's license through your state's regulatory agencies.
Nov 20, 2019 · A debt collector must tell you information such as the name of the creditor, the amount owed, and that if you dispute the debt the debt collector will have to obtain verification of the debt. If the debt collector does not provide this information during the initial contact with you, they are required to send you a written notice within five days of that initial contact .
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Sep 29, 2020 · Get the name of the collector, the collection company, its address, and phone number. 2. 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. 3. Don’t ...
