Debt Collectors: In trouble with creditors? A form letter

PROBLEMS WITH DEBT COLLECTORS?

Some solutions

IF YOUR MAIN PROBLEM IS DEBT collectors calling on the phone, writing threatening letters, and/or calling YOUR employer, family or others, try writing a letter to them similar to the following letter.

The "debt collector" is not the same person as your "creditor." "Creditors" are the people you actually owe money to. "Debt Collectors" are people or businesses your creditors may have hired to collect the debt. "Creditors" have more protection under the law. But "debt collectors" have serious penalties under the law if they do not follow the law exactly in attempting to collect a debt.

One option would be to write a letter to your creditors/debt collectors similar to that outlined below. It is important that the letter contains a date, that it is signed by you, and that you make a photographic copy (Xerox) of it for your records, after it is signed and before it is mailed..

Your name and
Your address including zip code
Your phone Number
Date letter is written

Company [debt collector name]
complete address,
City, State zip code

Re: (name on account and your account #)

Dear [person who called you]:

You have called me on the telephone [list EVERY date and time of day you have been called, for example, January 13, 2006, at 9:30 p.m., and again January 14, at 8:00 a.m., ...] concerning a debt in a certain amount which you say that I owe to [here list the people or business you are supposed to owe money to, like Sears, or Famous Barr, for example].

It is my understanding that the law does not permit you to contact anyone about this debt except me, and my [husband/wife] You are also not supposed to call me at inconvenient times, or to threaten to call my employer, neighbors, or anyone else. You are not supposed to harass me about this debt, or to threaten to harass me or contact my friends, neighbors or employer. Please send me written verification of your right to collect this debt, and the exact amounts you claim that I owe.

Cordially.

(sign your name above your printed name)

[Your printed name]

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU OWE THE DEBT AT ALL:

... the most accurate instructions on what to do are contained on the credit report that you need to first obtain from one or all three agencies in order to commence the dispute procedure. get the report, reference the disputed item correctly and follow the instructions contained in the relevant portion of the credit report

FOLLOWING ARE LINKS TO THE PLACES TO OBTAIN YOUR THREE FREE REPORTS:
<https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp> free annual
<http://www.experian.com/>
<http://www.equifax.com/>
<http://www.transunion.com/index.jsp>

If you, or your attorney, send dispute letters to all three credit bureaus, with documentation or without, the credit bureaus must investigate and change the information that they have sent to you. Send all requests certified mail, return receipt requested, as they only have 30 days to respond (plus mail time of 5 days, I believe). Sometimes they will still come back that the information is verified, in which case you, or your attorney, have to argue some more.