Can't thank you enough for your outstanding channel and insightful presentations. Your wealth of knowledge is sincerely appreciated. It's a tremendous blessing to people how you set aside time to educate on the process of navigating debt collection.
@@RWlawFL The biggest takeaway that I learned from the channel is writing a dispute when collection agency makes their first contact. And beyond that, the importance of sending certified return mail with receipt signature. I failed to send that method to the past agency: MRS BPO. Had I done so, potentially may have had seven violations against them. Now they flipped alleged debt to a place called Qualia. Dispute letter was sent the correct way this time. I now have an attorney. Really enjoy though learning about this whole process.
My letter is from a place where I never took my grandmother to the place that it states in the letter which is far from me and the place I took her to is paid off and we used the financial assistance from Sentra to help us with the bills. So the bills we got were 30 dollars every month for six months, the amount on the letter is ten times more that what we paid in the month. So thank you for this I wanted to write a good letter thanks for the help.
If a debt collector is asking you for amounts you don't really owe, they are probably breaking the law. If you're in Florida, call us: ricardolaw.com/contact/
You are awesome, I followed your video and did my dispute letters and had 4 items taken off my credit the creditors wrote me back and told me they were deleting the accounts.🎉🎉🎉
There are so many channels on here claiming to help with credit repair and some say don't send a letter to the collector and some say do send one. I made the mistake of sending one to Convergent Outsourcing, didn't even send it "return receipt" and of course I haven't heard back and it's still on my reports....I subscribed to your channel hoping to learn better :)
Depending on how you worded your letter, if they're still reporting to the credit bureau, they may be violating the law if they fail to report it as disputed. But on the plus side, it sounds like they may have stopped trying to collect from you.
I received additional charges for moving expenses, so I put a dispute through my bank because I used our bank credit card to pay moving expenses. The bank investigated these charges, and I received notification that I 6:51 did not need to pay. Dispute was closed. Now I am getting collection notices from a collection agency for the disputed amount and wants us to pay.
I have noticed that consumers do not realize just how important their signature really is when dealing with the enemy/Credit Bureaus. I always type my name and I never use an ink pen when I communicate with these entities.
My debt was apparently sold to a third party. How should or should I even make a dispute letter to that new debt collector? This video was super helpful too brother.
Glad you liked the video! You can and should send a dispute to the new debt collector, every time a new one pops up. Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video and our Three Ways to Make $1,000 video.
Is it valid to dispute based on finances? If you can’t fully pay the amount, can you lower it? and is it fine to send a dispute letter electronically? and if they never sent proof of debt, should you validate it first?
I want to dispute because the collection agency is wrong stating I opened account in January of this year when the original creditor say open the account in October 2021.
It sounds like the information is on your credit report. If so, you'll want to send that dispute straight to the credit bureaus, not the debt collector.
I just received a letter from a debt collector for questionable fees to an apartment complex where I was guarantor for my daughter. I never received any correspondence for outstanding fees from the apartment complex when she moved. We did a thorough clean of the apartment according to their requirements and also paid to have the carpet cleaned and provided the apartment complex with a copy of that receipt. We also understood that we may not get our deposit back because the kitchen cabinets would need to be painted. Other than that, there should have been no issues or outstanding fees after the keys were turned in. Should I still submit a request for validation to the debt collector? Should I request a detailed list of the outstanding fee from the apartment complex? Should I ask why they didn't contact me directly prior to contacting a debt collector? What is my next step?
If you got a letter from a debt collector, you can dispute the debt and ask for validation of the amounts. But if they're not doing anything more than sending letters, you can safely ignore them.
If I am dealing with a debt buyer, can I use the argument that I never signed an agreement with them as a valid defense? How does the sale or transfer of debt affect my responsibility to repay it, especially since I did not enter into any contract directly with the debt buyer?
> How does the sale or transfer of debt affect my responsibility to repay it They have to prove there was a legal transfer of the right to collect the account. This can be difficult. > can I use the argument that I never signed an agreement with them as a valid defense? No. You probable have much better defenses available to you. If you're in Florida, we can help. Give us a call at 352-567-3173.
Question should you in the dispute letter include anything about having the attorney generals office investigate the matter into the original company? Does this add credibility or is it more information they don’t need?
If you think a hospital has overcharged you, there may be a claim there, depending in part on state law. Fair Health Consumer is just research, though, and doesn't seem to have any legal effect.
What abt a Morgage being bought? My moms (70's) bank, Bank of America sold out to Ameris, who hired Specialized Loan Servicing. I JUST read on the back of her "statement" THIS IS A DEBT COLLECTOR". I HAD NO IDEA. Im just starting to start taking over/her affairs.
Keep an eye on Ameris. They only count as "debt collector" if her bill is past due, but federal law gives you some rights regarding mortgage loan servicing.
Thank you for this! Should we send this letter if we've received a pre-legal notice? Will sending this stop/delay them from suing? I have a notice and they gave me just one week to respond.
You can send this letter for a pre-legal notice, yes. In fact, you are likely to get information that will help you uncover a violation, depending on which debt collector you're dealing with. Check out our Debt Collection Battle Plan video.
@@RWlawFL Well I sent the letter certified return receipt, but it's stuck in a processing center. The USPS mail has been horrible recently. I don't know when it'll get there. Today was the deadline on the pre-legal letter Midland sent me, so I called and just said I'm disputing the debt and request that proof of validation be sent to the address on file. I just wanted to have something on record. What if they sue me before my certified letter gets there?? Should I send another via FedEx or UPS? It's nearly $200 for 2-day mail 😥
I just found your channel today and I'm so glad I did! In this video, you say to type in your name instead of actually signing it and I want to ask, why is that? What would be the difference?
It's based on the principle of "give as little information as possible." Why do they need to see your real signature? It doesn't benefit you in any way.
I was fighting a lawsuit against a junk debt buyer, The plaintiff asked the judge to dismiss the case without prejudice because his client didn't have a sworn affidavit. What are the chances of them refiling? I was ready to go to trial,
If it's without prejudice, then they can refile. This is why we teach "total victory" over a debt collector, where THEY pay YOU instead of the other way around.
Thank you for your information. What if the debt had been paid to the doctor just before creditor letter arrived? Do I let the debt collector them know in letter that this has indeed been paid to original owners of this debt?
Hello, I am filling out a CSU application for college and it is asking me to input my Parents' adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2022 and my Parents' untaxed income and benefits for 2022. I know the AGI can be found on line 11 of the 1040 form on the 2022 Individual Tax Return, but I want to confirm where I can find the amount for the untaxed income and benefits? Is it line 2a where it says “Tax-exempt interest” or is it line 2b where it says “Taxable interest”? Line 2a is blank, but line 2b has an amount. Which one would I put? Thanks!!
Question: Can a total (full) amount of debt be sent to multiple parties for collections? I.E. Total balance went to two separate renters' credit reports, thus doubling the total. How is this disputed? Thanks in advance.
If it's the same account, it gets scored as one account, so there's no "doubling" the total. Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video to see what you should do next.
I own an investment condo under my business name and am current on HOA and special assessments. However the condo board did not pay the master board and the master board is now trying to collect from the condo owners through a legal collection firm. The debt is validated but it is debt owed by the condo board, not the owners. I'm assuming the same rules apply? I just need to write to say that I dispute the debt since I am current; I have paid in full what I owe in HOA and special assessments, correct? Can they put a lien on my condo?
Nothing on this channel is going to apply to investment property because it's not "consumer debt." If you're a real estate investor and you don't have a real estate lawyer on speed-dial you're setting yourself up for disaster.
Hey I recently came across a collection debt on my credit report and I was never contacted by the collection by mail or phone. also was never given any notice or billed for this by the company they are collecting for should I still dispute it? or how should I go about it
You shouldn’t dispute a credit report entry, unless it’s in accurate, obsolete, or contains other unverifiable information. What about the credit reporting is somehow wrong? If you can’t find that, then there’s no legal basis for you to dispute anything.
Once a car is repossessed, any debt collector has a higher obligation to prove any remaining debt. This is a very specialized area of the law and may vary from state to state.
I The problem my lady and I are having is we were paying creditors but they didnt update the amount. The amount they say we owe hasnt been updated to refelct what we've payed.
Thank you for the video. I received two statements from the debt collector. The transaction charges are very different from the NEW BALANCE AMOUNT. Do I need tailor the letter different from "provide a detail statement of the amount"
Virginia charges personal property tax on your personal vehicle, long story short, the Virginia DMV still mails me an annual tax assessment bill the last two years to me in New York. I haven't lived in Virginia since 2021. Now it's in "collection". The DMV will probably just tell me it's in collection and the collection company will have to eat it?
Hello, I have a question. I have a collection on my credit report for a balance from an apartment complex. I know the balance they trying to collect is incorrect because I have the final statement from the apartment complex. Should I dispute this with the credit bureau and send them this statement, go straight to the collection agency and request debt validation, or go to the collection agency and tell them they are trying to collect money I do not owe and send them the statement?
Send your debt validation letter first. Once you get the green card back, send a dispute letter to the bureaus. Then see what happens on your credit report. Check out our Debt Collection Battle Plan video first.
Hi, This is a awesome video! I have a collection agency reaching out in regard to an OJI (On the Job Injury) claim where I was insured and visited an urgent care facility. The company that I was insured with has yet to pay for the bill and now it is on my credit report as a debt. Should my letter fall under the second example of “the amount is wrong” or would my letter be completely different? Mind you it’s from 3 years ago. The debt collection agency has been sending letters to the wrong address. Thanks!
Hi there, so glad I found your channel! I spoke to a debt collector about a debt that I do owe. However, it was the wrong amount. I told them this and sent the court ordered document. With the correct amount. They sent a revised letter with a revised amount, but still not the court ordered amount. I assume they added fees, which in Georgia, I read they can't do. Am I able to have this item removed from my credit based on them trying to collect an erroneous amount?
If you sue them for collecting illegal fees, which you probably can do here, they will probably have to remove it from the credit report. You also have a right to dispute anything on your report that’s inaccurate.
Hello, I went to HCA emergency room last year. I am an adult on my own medical insurance via my employer. Whilst in the emergency room waiting room the attendant requested a next of kin. I provided my mother's name and they then put all billing under my mother's name (who was never with me). I called over 10 times to several different people in HCA billing requesting that the information be corrected without remedy. Now, they sent my mother to collections. Should my mom provide all the details of what occurred or just that she doesn't owe the debt, was never present and never committed to the debt?
In November of 2022 I paid off several medical bills before the new year that was left over after my insurance paid their part. Well the new year 2023 those same debts rolled over to the next year with my health insurance changing to a much lower insurance I didn’t choose myself so now all those bills came back with my owed amount much higher even though they were already paid which I have proof of payment for that amount was not added to my co payment last year..it’s not in collection yet but anthem is giving me the run around even though I have 3 creditor letters saying it was paid..what do I do now..I’ve paid over 3k of the $4k they say is my responsibility for 6 hours in the er?
I received a letter from a debt collector called Online Information Systems in the mail saying I owe money to an energy company in Georgia. I have never even been to Georgia, much less lived there. How do I know if this is a real mix-up to worry about or just a scam? Should I ignore it? Call the energy company? Call the collector? I'm current out of the US longterm, so sending a return letter isn't a simple option.
Hello There, your videos are very helpful. I recently checked my credit report, and there's a collections account reporting on my credit, however the account is fraud how do I dispute the issue? I disputed the account in which it just came back as updated. What steps should I take next?
If you believe that there is a collections account on your credit report that is the result of fraud, the first thing you should do is contact the credit reporting agency (CRA) that is reporting the account and dispute the information with them. The CRA is required by law to investigate your dispute and provide you with the results of their investigation within a certain time frame, usually 30-45 days. To dispute the information with the CRA, you will need to provide them with any evidence you have that the collections account is fraudulent, such as a police report or statement from the creditor indicating that the account is not valid. You should also include a detailed explanation of why you believe the collections account is fraudulent, and request that the CRA remove the account from your credit report. Once you have disputed the collections account with the CRA, you should also contact the creditor that is reporting the account and dispute the debt with them. You should provide them with the same evidence and explanation that you provided to the CRA, and request that they remove the account from your credit report. If the creditor continues to report the collections account to the credit bureaus after you have disputed the debt with them, you may need to take legal action to have the account removed from your credit report. This could involve hiring a lawyer and suing the creditor in court.
question how should i dispute late payments that are reporting on an account that's in a hardship program and they are still showing the account as past due. Meaning i reached out to my creditor and explained i was having difficulties due to a stroke i had just and asked if there was any arrangements that could be made. i was told that they would put me in a hardship program and the account would be updated as payment arrangements made but they are still showing past due even though i was told that by being in this program this wouldnt happen. What should ido
Portfolio sent me a letter to collect a debt from citi Bank, but i checked all my credit reports and it seems that citi bank never reported to any of the 3 credit bureaus. What should i do?
Hello, I'm in ND. I got a court summons from a debt collectors lawyer stating a principal amount plus pre judgement interest and cost to date, nearly doubling the principal amount. Also stating costs and disbursements including service of process fees, filing fees, and other such relief as the court shall deem just will be added to the total amount owed. I don't recall ever seeing this collections company's name before either through phone call or mail. I recognize the creditor but not the principal amount. If I use the outline for a validation letter you posted, do I send it to the collection company or their lawyer? Does this stop the summons so I don't have to appear in court?
If you got a summons, go straight to a lawyer who handles deft defense or FDCPA claims in your area. Don’t mess around trying to fix this without professional help.
Is it true that you can dispute a debt by having them send you the original contract. If they can't provide that within 30 days, you can have the debt removed? How about concating then to pay a less amount (pay to delete).
>Is it true that you can dispute a debt by having them send you the original contract. If they can't provide that within 30 days, you can have the debt removed? NO. This is an internet myth. Check out this video to see what really works: ua-cam.com/video/zcV35XzVzdA/v-deo.html
I got a letter from midland credit saying it is a “Attorney Review Planned” and it’s says final notice and in the back it says who was the company I owed and that it was charged off and that Midland creditors are now the sole owner of the debt….I live in Massachusetts and have no idea what to do cuz I didn’t receive a letter asking if I would like to dispute and I am not working so I have no idea what to do….can I still dispute or anything else besides pay because I am not working
If Midland hasn’t sent you the five day letter, they are probably breaking the law, and that means they might owe you money. There are a ton of consumer lawyers in Massachusetts who can help you. Look for a lawyer who handles FDCPA work.
Hi there! I just received a letter from a collections agency for $25 but nothing has shown up on my credit report. I’m assuming I should send a letter to verify current debt amount? The bill is from 09/2022😭 or Would I still be able to just mail the form back with the money? I have not received any other mailings from them since then
Somehow experian came back “Verified” for a collection account I have no knowledge of. Do I send another letter asking for proof of signed docs, to Experian? Or to the Collection Company itself?
Experian won't have, and couldn't give you. any signed documents. But the collection itself should tell you who the original creditor is. If it doesn't, you can dispute the debt with the debt collector and request the name of the original creditor as part of your dispute. You're in luck! We're dropping a new video Tuesday, Nov. 30, to tell you about the new rules that apply to debt validation letters for situations exactly like this one. Keep an eye out.
Great content! What if I have 3 small charged offs? $152, $205 and $300. Their with Discover, Open Sky and TD Target. Can I just pay them off and then dispute the info? I can see the date open, last active and last report are all over the map on all 3 account. I’m short on time I need to get them off within 60 days. Thanks!!!
Hi. Good evening thank you for this great info. But what if I never signed a responsibility account document or the estimate for the veterinary services they sent me to a lawyer for? Hopefully you could provide some information as I had received an attorney letter I am not sure if to respond or not. Thank you in advance. I'm in Georgia.
If they overcharged you, or misled you in someway, that might be a problem. Whether you “signed“ something or not probably doesn’t matter. But Georgia law may be different. I’m only license in Florida.
@@RWlawFL Thank you so much for your response. I am still trying to find a consumer protection lawyer in my area, unfortunately I've not succeeded. Do you know of one you could recommend. Thank you.
your videos have been really helpful. I got a letter from debt collector recently. the debt was obtained from a different state and i have moved to a different state, the debt is over 6 years old, the letter came in my maiden name cause my last name has changed and the letter was addressed to my sister's house and i don't live there. what should i do?
What about in the scenario that the creditor never billed insurance correctly, so while in the process of fixing this error and re-billing insurance (and they said it wouldn’t go to collections while in this process) they sent it to collections anyway. Before insurance could fully pay whatever part they were going to pay….so I shouldn’t owe the full amount but I don’t know what I truly owe because it didn’t get completed with insurance.
This sounds like a dispute with the underlying creditor. If this is a Florida case, we may be able to help. If it's not, consult a lawyer in your state. ricardolaw.com/contact/
You'd need to create a custom letter explaining why you feel the Act applies to you and what you want done to fix the problem. A one-size-fits-all letter would be worse than useless.
I cannot afford multiple certified mailings as they are nearly $8 now. I want to dispute and have them stop attempting to contact me. I'm in my last year of life, and have indemnified myself (judgment proof), and have transferred all assets several years ago. Which "One single letter" can I send?
Check out our free letters. If you can’t afford certified mail, then don’t. If your only goal is to stop then from contacting you, just focus on the cease contact letter in our free package.
Hi, I tried to complete everything online about TRS , and this stuff of dispute but they asked me to put my rooting number and account number there, should I fill it or pass? What can I do? Thanks
NEVER give a debt collector your bank information. If you're still looking to dispute a claim, we have free letters forms available for your download. you can find them here: rwlaw.gumroad.com/l/letters
Hi, I sent the validation letter to the collection agency, on the validation i requested proof of the original contract or agreement bearing my signature but they did not send me what i asked for. I can tell that the collection agency do not have any contract or agreement signed by me. The collection agency is telling me that i need to sign the validation letter with my signature on it. DO I NEED TO SIGN THE VALIDATION LETTER? What laws under the FDCPA state that the validation letter must be sign? Can you please give me your advice on what to respond to the collection agency on this situation.
They don’t have to give you a signed document. We’ve done several videos on debt validation and I recommend you watch each of them to get a complete answer to all these questions.
what about if I didnt know and the account is about 4 years old they ask me to make a small payment i did ill guess they open it again but now they charging me more for what i owen a first. is credit card debit and is from thir party minland credit management. can i still disputed or fight for or not since i made a small payment ? thank you for your time .
Debt validation letters only go to debt collectors. If you want to dispute something on your credit report, those are different letters that we mostly don’t talk about here.
What if the debt isn’t valid bc the contract upon which it was based was had a termination clause that was met. Daughter signed housing K with sorority, then transferred to another school and met all her obligations for establishing status to nullify the K. And now, 2 years later, we got a collection letter.
Question regarding when suing debt collectors. Is it worth it when the attorneys fee are taxable for plaintiff? Say the debt is $2 and the win is $1000 but attorneys fees are high. At the end of the day plaintiff might loose money. How much are attorneys fees in cases like this?
Under the FDCPA attorney fees are on top of the recovery. Our settlements always make sure the client gets their sue without having to worry about fees cutting into that.
@@RWlawFL I guess I didn’t phrase my question correctly. Attorneys fees are taxable correct? And plaintiff is responsible to pay taxes for those fees. There is a chance that depending on the plaintiff tax braket he or she might end up having to pay more on taxes than the actual debt that collectors are seeking?
We can’t give tax advice and any tax advice we might give is likely wrong. So whether a lawsuit will result in tax consequences would be a matter to discuss with a CPA or similar expert.
What if I never received any letter from AWS Collections?? Which I have never received any heads up or call from this AWS Collection agency. But they already put this collection account on my Experian Account??
No one Hass to send a letter before reporting a debt to The credit reporting bureaus. They only have to do that if they’re actively trying to collect from you through communications or court action. What does that mean for the debt validation scenario? It’s a gray area in the law. There appears to be no requirement that they respond to your dispute, unless you disputed in response to the 1692g notice. My next question would be, if you really don’t recognize the original creditor as reported on your credit report, and they should be reporting the original creditor, then you may be the victim of identity theft and you could possibly proceed that way.
@@RWlawFL I’m only aware of this collection because it popped up on Experian. It just say AWS Collection. So since Experian is claiming it’s verified, should I send a letter to experian asking how exactly did they verify this collection? Or send a letter directly to AWS Collection directly?
If it's inaccurate, obsolete, or otherwise incomplete, you can either send a follow-up dispute or go directly to suing them for any damages you suffered.
I’ve written a verification letter and sent it back in July, it is now OCTOBER. For background, it is a medical bill on a day I did receive service. However, I don’t think I was reached out by my hospitals billing and it was went straight to collections. I am trying to understand if this physicians bill is truly mine now that it not coming from the hospital/provider. I sent an email AND certified mail, in which they have received both. I don’t want this wait time to hurt my credit even further, somehow. I requested an itemized statement along with my letter to prove my debt but they’re saying the hospital has not been able to get them the statement so it’s some sort of waiting game… Another this is that I ran 2/3 credit reports to try to see if my account appeared there, I don’t see it. If that normal to not report to the credit bureaus? I’m confused, what can I do? I’ve reached out to them via phone call to get an update every week at this point.
If it’s not on your credit report, and you haven’t heard anything from them since you disputed, then everything is working as planned. Don’t rock the boat. But if they contact you without responding to your dispute that may be a violation of law.
Unfortunately this is wrong. Dermatology collectors don’t need your permission to report unpaid debts. The main requirement is that their reports must be factually correct.
A debt validation letter is the wrong tool for this job. You can send a dispute letter to the credit bureau, (not the original creditor or the debt collector) for any account on your credit report that is inaccurate, obsolete, or incomplete. They have a duty to make a "reasonable investigation" and correct inaccurate information, and to remove information that is obsolete or cannot be verified. If they fail to make this investigation, or fail to correct or remove information that's not accurate, complete, and timely, you can sue them for any damages suffered because of that failure.
No. Check out this post we wrote a couple of weeks ago: ua-cam.com/channels/cd-Vm_H-CX6sVcOQMBehgQ.htmlcommunity?lb=Ugkx7RnV1rmhA9taQXnMQaEiR57pHgdPjQAJ
You can tell them that contacting you at a particular address is "inconvenient" and they have to stop sending letters there. Check out our free dispute letter kit: rwlaw.gumroad.com/l/letters
I had an accident in NH, and I had no insurance (legal there). A debt collector called me, but has sent nothing written. I got a suspension notice from NH DMV. They said after a $25 restoration fee "Security required or an agreement signed by both parties indicating the matter has been settled . . ." What does the security required refer to? If NH does not determine fault in accidents, which is what the cop told me, how can they take the collection agency's word?
Hi, thanks for the great video. I used to work for a company about 3 years ago or more. I had to quite my job and leave for a family emergency outside the United States, i did disused the emergency and let my supervisor/team leader know that i was going to leave and wouldn't be able to come back to job as i should have. The company/my former employer kept sending me my salary for some weeks when i was gone. i thought that was a bonus or maybe they counted those as my paid holidays and then after about two months or so it stopped. Since i was gone i wasn't able to contact my former employer, but i was in touch with my supervisor. After almost 1 year, i received an email telling me to refund that (4 to 5 thousand) . I did not reply back to the email. I moved to a different address after i came back, Now after a long time, i visited my old address, and the management office had a new letter for me. It is from a debt collector showing a crazy amount (more than double the actual amount) debt along with a letter with some options to chose from. Now my question is, can they legally do anything about it? would they keep increasing the amount and will be held liable for that? should i contact the debt collector or file a dispute? or just ignore it?
hello i recently received a letter from the debt collector about a bill i owed to the hospital. im VERY new to this and im kinda scared of getting a lawsuit/sued or possibly having my credit ruined from this. the only reason i didn't pay the owed bill was because i can't afford it, nor my family can help me. i recently did get health insurance though. is there ways to deal about this? do i need to call my hospital? what will the collector do?
When a creditor's letter (of balance due) alerts you of potential identity theft or fraud (ultimately, not my debt) & you notify the creditor it's not my debt...then, a law firm begins collecting the disputed debt, are there different responses or actions to take? Should I also be sending letters to the original creditor validating & disputing the debt? Thanks from Tampa Bay.
If original debt collection notice has two names on it, for example both spouses. Should both people write separate dispute letters? Because only one spouse has the debt…
If it is a joint account, or a joint debt, and the debt collector said a single letter to both of you, then you probably do need to send a dispute letter for each.
@@RWlawFL ok it’s not a joint debt but they are trying to make it look like a joint debt. The original contract with the original company only had one spouses name on the original contract.
If they're claiming that both parties owe the debt but it's only one, that would be a violation. I'd want to confirm that it was only one spouse who owed the debt; if I was satisfied about that, BOTH spouses would have a lawsuit for the false statement that both both spouses received.
@@RWlawFL ok great thank you for your response, now do I still send out two seperate dispute letters to them asking them to confirm or validate the date ? I guess I’m trying to think of how I would word this when I send them the dispute letter. I have the original contract with the company with the proof it was only in one spouses name. Any help is greatly appreciated.
At this point, it's probably going to be best for you to speak with a debt collection lawyer in New York. There may be a violation there, and there may not.
What if I've done the dispute, they respond, the debt is probably mine, but they never report there debt as disputed to the credit bureaus? Is this violation able to be sued? Would you sue for each credit bureau that was not notified? Ie. Three credit bureaus, three violations?
If they report but fail to report the dispute, they’ve broken the law and you can sue the collector under the FDCPA. It would only be one lawsuit with three violations.
What if I owe an amount but it includes ridiculous "admin"fees which are more than the amount owed for the tolls? How do I word that to get them to send me an updated bill showing the actual charges without the admin fees?
The fees are either legal or illegal-depending on your state law and the contract you agreed to when you took the debt. If the fees are illegal, you can sue the debt collector for trying to collect them. (Don't bother negotiating with companies that do this) If the fees are allowed by your contract, it probably doesn't matter how "ridiculous" they are unless they somehow break state law.
Hey I have a question. If the company tried to collect debt and couldn’t get you to pay, don’t they write it off to their insurance company as a charge off…which means they’ve been compensated for the debt then they sell the original debt to a company who will come after you for payment….ISNT this company who bought original debt trying to collect on this debt twice ? How is this Legal that they can try to get payment from a debt that’s been charged off meaning it’s paid…not by you but insurance swttlement
There is no such insurance for the vast majority of debts, and what little there is (usually mortgage insurance) requires the insured or allows the insurer to go after the borrower for any unpaid balance.
Can't thank you enough for your outstanding channel and insightful presentations. Your wealth of knowledge is sincerely appreciated. It's a tremendous blessing to people how you set aside time to educate on the process of navigating debt collection.
I’m glad you found it so helpful.
Is there something specific you’ve done that has helped you out, that you learned on this channel?
@@RWlawFL The biggest takeaway that I learned from the channel is writing a dispute when collection agency makes their first contact. And beyond that, the importance of sending certified return mail with receipt signature. I failed to send that method to the past agency: MRS BPO. Had I done so, potentially may have had seven violations against them. Now they flipped alleged debt to a place called Qualia. Dispute letter was sent the correct way this time. I now have an attorney. Really enjoy though learning about this whole process.
Wow, this is great! I hope you get everything you work so hard for.
My letter is from a place where I never took my grandmother to the place that it states in the letter which is far from me and the place I took her to is paid off and we used the financial assistance from Sentra to help us with the bills. So the bills we got were 30 dollars every month for six months, the amount on the letter is ten times more that what we paid in the month. So thank you for this I wanted to write a good letter thanks for the help.
If a debt collector is asking you for amounts you don't really owe, they are probably breaking the law. If you're in Florida, call us: ricardolaw.com/contact/
You are awesome, I followed your video and did my dispute letters and had 4 items taken off my credit the creditors wrote me back and told me they were deleting the accounts.🎉🎉🎉
Cool! Do you mind reaching out to me by email? ricardolaw.com/contact/ Put your username in your message to me.
Your energy is contagious! Thank you again for much useful information. God bless you.
Thanks! We're having fun getting these out.
There are so many channels on here claiming to help with credit repair and some say don't send a letter to the collector and some say do send one. I made the mistake of sending one to Convergent Outsourcing, didn't even send it "return receipt" and of course I haven't heard back and it's still on my reports....I subscribed to your channel hoping to learn better :)
Depending on how you worded your letter, if they're still reporting to the credit bureau, they may be violating the law if they fail to report it as disputed.
But on the plus side, it sounds like they may have stopped trying to collect from you.
@@RWlawFL thanks for your response!
@@RWlawFL they actually responded, they sent back "verified" and sent a copy of a utility bill as proof..what do I now?
We've got a video on that! ua-cam.com/video/4gdqv7aaRs8/v-deo.html
I received additional charges for moving expenses, so I put a dispute through my bank because I used our bank credit card to pay moving expenses. The bank investigated these charges, and I received notification that I 6:51 did not need to pay. Dispute was closed. Now I am getting collection notices from a collection agency for the disputed amount and wants us to pay.
The bank investigation doesn’t bind the landlord or the debt collector. You probably need to sue one or both of them.
I have noticed that consumers do not realize just how important their signature really is when dealing with the enemy/Credit Bureaus. I always type my name and I never use an ink pen when I communicate with these entities.
Legally, a typed signature is as good as one you write with a pen. So most people actually OVERESTIMATE the value of a signature.
Could you explain more? I don't understand this...🫣
@@staciewebb4829 Most contracts don't even require signatures anymore. Most of them are online clicks.
My debt was apparently sold to a third party. How should or should I even make a dispute letter to that new debt collector? This video was super helpful too brother.
Glad you liked the video!
You can and should send a dispute to the new debt collector, every time a new one pops up.
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video and our Three Ways to Make $1,000 video.
Very helpful, thanks!
Glad you liked!
Is it valid to dispute based on finances? If you can’t fully pay the amount, can you lower it? and is it fine to send a dispute letter electronically? and if they never sent proof of debt, should you validate it first?
“I can’t pay” is a confession, not a dispute.
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video before you make any damaging admissions.
I want to dispute because the collection agency is wrong stating I opened account in January of this year when the original creditor say open the account in October 2021.
It sounds like the information is on your credit report. If so, you'll want to send that dispute straight to the credit bureaus, not the debt collector.
Thanks for the video! I'm curious as to why you don't want people to sign their name on the dispute letter.
Two reasons: 1. The typed signature is enough 2. Why give them a handwriting sample they can use against you?
Excellent info, THANK YOU sir!
You’re welcome!
I just received a letter from a debt collector for questionable fees to an apartment complex where I was guarantor for my daughter. I never received any correspondence for outstanding fees from the apartment complex when she moved. We did a thorough clean of the apartment according to their requirements and also paid to have the carpet cleaned and provided the apartment complex with a copy of that receipt. We also understood that we may not get our deposit back because the kitchen cabinets would need to be painted. Other than that, there should have been no issues or outstanding fees after the keys were turned in. Should I still submit a request for validation to the debt collector? Should I request a detailed list of the outstanding fee from the apartment complex? Should I ask why they didn't contact me directly prior to contacting a debt collector? What is my next step?
If you got a letter from a debt collector, you can dispute the debt and ask for validation of the amounts.
But if they're not doing anything more than sending letters, you can safely ignore them.
If I am dealing with a debt buyer, can I use the argument that I never signed an agreement with them as a valid defense? How does the sale or transfer of debt affect my responsibility to repay it, especially since I did not enter into any contract directly with the debt buyer?
> How does the sale or transfer of debt affect my responsibility to repay it
They have to prove there was a legal transfer of the right to collect the account. This can be difficult.
> can I use the argument that I never signed an agreement with them as a valid defense?
No. You probable have much better defenses available to you.
If you're in Florida, we can help. Give us a call at 352-567-3173.
Question should you in the dispute letter include anything about having the attorney generals office investigate the matter into the original company? Does this add credibility or is it more information they don’t need?
It does not add credibility or do you any good.
What if the charges from the hospital are excessive in comparison to costs for procedures etc from FAIR HEALTH CONSUMER?
If you think a hospital has overcharged you, there may be a claim there, depending in part on state law.
Fair Health Consumer is just research, though, and doesn't seem to have any legal effect.
What abt a Morgage being bought? My moms (70's) bank, Bank of America sold out to Ameris, who hired Specialized Loan Servicing. I JUST read on the back of her "statement" THIS IS A DEBT COLLECTOR". I HAD NO IDEA. Im just starting to start taking over/her affairs.
Keep an eye on Ameris. They only count as "debt collector" if her bill is past due, but federal law gives you some rights regarding mortgage loan servicing.
So once we do what you have instructed above if they cannot prove the debt is yours, is it them removed from your credit report?
It may not be automatic. You may have to do some follow-up.
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
What if you don't think they have the right to collect?
You can say that in your dispute letter as well.
Hi, why do you suggest not signing the letter?
Two reasons: 1. The typed signature is sufficient. 2. Why give them a handwriting sample if you don’t have to?
@@RWlawFL thank you, it is never too late for a little more wisdom.👍
Thank you for this! Should we send this letter if we've received a pre-legal notice? Will sending this stop/delay them from suing? I have a notice and they gave me just one week to respond.
You can send this letter for a pre-legal notice, yes. In fact, you are likely to get information that will help you uncover a violation, depending on which debt collector you're dealing with.
Check out our Debt Collection Battle Plan video.
@@RWlawFL Thank you!! I'm dealing with Midland.
You're welcome!
Midland is exactly who I was thinking of. If you're in Florida, give us a call.
@@RWlawFL Well I sent the letter certified return receipt, but it's stuck in a processing center. The USPS mail has been horrible recently. I don't know when it'll get there. Today was the deadline on the pre-legal letter Midland sent me, so I called and just said I'm disputing the debt and request that proof of validation be sent to the address on file. I just wanted to have something on record. What if they sue me before my certified letter gets there?? Should I send another via FedEx or UPS? It's nearly $200 for 2-day mail 😥
> The USPS mail has been horrible recently.
Agreed.
Make sure you had the correct address, though.
I just found your channel today and I'm so glad I did! In this video, you say to type in your name instead of actually signing it and I want to ask, why is that? What would be the difference?
It's based on the principle of "give as little information as possible."
Why do they need to see your real signature?
It doesn't benefit you in any way.
@@RWlawFL Thanks, I was curious about that and thank you again as I'm going to using your advice to compose my letter today!
Great! Let us know how it goes!
I was fighting a lawsuit against a junk debt buyer, The plaintiff asked the judge to dismiss the case without prejudice because his client didn't have a sworn affidavit. What are the chances of them refiling? I was ready to go to trial,
If it's without prejudice, then they can refile. This is why we teach "total victory" over a debt collector, where THEY pay YOU instead of the other way around.
@Ricardo&WasylikPL Thank You for this Valuable Information!
You’re very welcome!
What about if the same creditors file it twice in a 2-year period?
First time at July 2022. Last time is last month. Can they do that
That may be a violation, but it depends on what happened with the first case. Are you in Florida? If so, give us a call.
Good information.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your information. What if the debt had been paid to the doctor just before creditor letter arrived? Do I let the debt collector them know in letter that this has indeed been paid to original owners of this debt?
If you’ve paid a debt that’s always a great point to raise.
Can you dispute if already being sued and have court date? FL
If you have a Florida court date, call us immediately. A dispute letter is not enough to protect your rights.
Hello,
I am filling out a CSU application for college and it is asking me to input my Parents' adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2022 and my Parents' untaxed income and benefits for 2022. I know the AGI can be found on line 11 of the 1040 form on the 2022 Individual Tax Return, but I want to confirm where I can find the amount for the untaxed income and benefits? Is it line 2a where it says “Tax-exempt interest” or is it line 2b where it says “Taxable interest”? Line 2a is blank, but line 2b has an amount. Which one would I put?
Thanks!!
I have no idea. Have you tried a specialist in that area?
Thank you for your video
You are welcome!
Question: Can a total (full) amount of debt be sent to multiple parties for collections? I.E. Total balance went to two separate renters' credit reports, thus doubling the total. How is this disputed? Thanks in advance.
If it's the same account, it gets scored as one account, so there's no "doubling" the total.
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video to see what you should do next.
I own an investment condo under my business name and am current on HOA and special assessments. However the condo board did not pay the master board and the master board is now trying to collect from the condo owners through a legal collection firm. The debt is validated but it is debt owed by the condo board, not the owners. I'm assuming the same rules apply? I just need to write to say that I dispute the debt since I am current; I have paid in full what I owe in HOA and special assessments, correct? Can they put a lien on my condo?
Nothing on this channel is going to apply to investment property because it's not "consumer debt." If you're a real estate investor and you don't have a real estate lawyer on speed-dial you're setting yourself up for disaster.
Does it have to be signed at all whether print or wet?
Not really.
@@RWlawFL thank you.
Can a breach of contract constitute disputing a debt balance?
I don't understand your question.
Is there a form for Statute of Limitations where the debt (my hospital bill) is passed the SOL?? Any help appreciated.
If a debt collector is trying to collect a debt that’s beyond the SOL, and they can seal this fact, you can skip straight to suing them.
How many days do we legally have to respond to the first debt collection notice? I’m in PA if that matters.
30 days under federal law.
@@RWlawFL thank you!
You're welcome!
Hey I recently came across a collection debt on my credit report and I was never contacted by the collection by mail or phone. also was never given any notice or billed for this by the company they are collecting for should I still dispute it? or how should I go about it
You shouldn’t dispute a credit report entry, unless it’s in accurate, obsolete, or contains other unverifiable information.
What about the credit reporting is somehow wrong? If you can’t find that, then there’s no legal basis for you to dispute anything.
Hey any advice on repossession?
Once a car is repossessed, any debt collector has a higher obligation to prove any remaining debt. This is a very specialized area of the law and may vary from state to state.
I The problem my lady and I are having is we were paying creditors but they didnt update the amount. The amount they say we owe hasnt been updated to refelct what we've payed.
That’s a violation you could sue for.
Thank you for the video. I received two statements from the debt collector. The transaction charges are very different from the NEW BALANCE AMOUNT. Do I need tailor the letter different from "provide a detail statement of the amount"
Your wording is fine.
Virginia charges personal property tax on your personal vehicle, long story short, the Virginia DMV still mails me an annual tax assessment bill the last two years to me in New York. I haven't lived in Virginia since 2021. Now it's in "collection". The DMV will probably just tell me it's in collection and the collection company will have to eat it?
Nothing we say on this channel applies to taxes. Contact a Virginia lawyer if you have any questions about taxes there.
Hello, I have a question. I have a collection on my credit report for a balance from an apartment complex. I know the balance they trying to collect is incorrect because I have the final statement from the apartment complex. Should I dispute this with the credit bureau and send them this statement, go straight to the collection agency and request debt validation, or go to the collection agency and tell them they are trying to collect money I do not owe and send them the statement?
Send your debt validation letter first. Once you get the green card back, send a dispute letter to the bureaus. Then see what happens on your credit report.
Check out our Debt Collection Battle Plan video first.
@@RWlawFL Thank you!! I have learned soooo much from your videos.
You're very welcome!
Hi,
This is a awesome video! I have a collection agency reaching out in regard to an OJI (On the Job Injury) claim where I was insured and visited an urgent care facility. The company that I was insured with has yet to pay for the bill and now it is on my credit report as a debt. Should my letter fall under the second example of “the amount is wrong” or would my letter be completely different? Mind you it’s from 3 years ago. The debt collection agency has been sending letters to the wrong address.
Thanks!
If you don’t owe the debt because someone else was supposed to pay it, just say that.
If there's old debt reporting on your credit report, is it worth validation? It's past the statute of limitations.
What state are you in? I may know when attorney that specializes in that particular fact pattern who can help you.
Hi there, so glad I found your channel!
I spoke to a debt collector about a debt that I do owe. However, it was the wrong amount. I told them this and sent the court ordered document. With the correct amount. They sent a revised letter with a revised amount, but still not the court ordered amount. I assume they added fees, which in Georgia, I read they can't do. Am I able to have this item removed from my credit based on them trying to collect an erroneous amount?
If you sue them for collecting illegal fees, which you probably can do here, they will probably have to remove it from the credit report.
You also have a right to dispute anything on your report that’s inaccurate.
Hello, I went to HCA emergency room last year. I am an adult on my own medical insurance via my employer. Whilst in the emergency room waiting room the attendant requested a next of kin. I provided my mother's name and they then put all billing under my mother's name (who was never with me). I called over 10 times to several different people in HCA billing requesting that the information be corrected without remedy. Now, they sent my mother to collections. Should my mom provide all the details of what occurred or just that she doesn't owe the debt, was never present and never committed to the debt?
If they're trying to collect a bill she doesn't owe, that's a debt collection violation. If she's in Florida, we can help-just give us a call.
In November of 2022 I paid off several medical bills before the new year that was left over after my insurance paid their part. Well the new year 2023 those same debts rolled over to the next year with my health insurance changing to a much lower insurance I didn’t choose myself so now all those bills came back with my owed amount much higher even though they were already paid which I have proof of payment for that amount was not added to my co payment last year..it’s not in collection yet but anthem is giving me the run around even though I have 3 creditor letters saying it was paid..what do I do now..I’ve paid over 3k of the $4k they say is my responsibility for 6 hours in the er?
If a debt collector is trying to collect a bill you've already paid, that's a huge problem for them.
I received a letter from a debt collector called Online Information Systems in the mail saying I owe money to an energy company in Georgia. I have never even been to Georgia, much less lived there.
How do I know if this is a real mix-up to worry about or just a scam? Should I ignore it? Call the energy company? Call the collector? I'm current out of the US longterm, so sending a return letter isn't a simple option.
If it’s not your debt then it’s illegal for them to try to collect from you.
Hello There, your videos are very helpful. I recently checked my credit report, and there's a collections account reporting on my credit, however the account is fraud how do I dispute the issue? I disputed the account in which it just came back as updated. What steps should I take next?
If you believe that there is a collections account on your credit report that is the result of fraud, the first thing you should do is contact the credit reporting agency (CRA) that is reporting the account and dispute the information with them. The CRA is required by law to investigate your dispute and provide you with the results of their investigation within a certain time frame, usually 30-45 days.
To dispute the information with the CRA, you will need to provide them with any evidence you have that the collections account is fraudulent, such as a police report or statement from the creditor indicating that the account is not valid. You should also include a detailed explanation of why you believe the collections account is fraudulent, and request that the CRA remove the account from your credit report.
Once you have disputed the collections account with the CRA, you should also contact the creditor that is reporting the account and dispute the debt with them. You should provide them with the same evidence and explanation that you provided to the CRA, and request that they remove the account from your credit report.
If the creditor continues to report the collections account to the credit bureaus after you have disputed the debt with them, you may need to take legal action to have the account removed from your credit report. This could involve hiring a lawyer and suing the creditor in court.
question how should i dispute late payments that are reporting on an account that's in a hardship program and they are still showing the account as past due. Meaning i reached out to my creditor and explained i was having difficulties due to a stroke i had just and asked if there was any arrangements that could be made. i was told that they would put me in a hardship program and the account would be updated as payment arrangements made but they are still showing past due even though i was told that by being in this program this wouldnt happen. What should ido
If a debt collector has lied to you, they've broken the law and you may be able to sue them.
i am in Texas and im going to do this on my own and a bit nervous. i dont have legal representation in this case due to it being from damages.
Anywhere in Texas, call Bill Clanton. We interviewed him here: ua-cam.com/video/wpo7ruwu9u8/v-deo.html
I was told before that handwritten letters are more effective. If handwriting a letter are you to print your name vs signing?
Why would you give them a handwriting sample? How many ways could that go wrong?
Is there any point in contacting you for help or hire if we don't live in Florida?
What state are you in? We might be able to send you to a lawyer in your state.
Portfolio sent me a letter to collect a debt from citi Bank, but i checked all my credit reports and it seems that citi bank never reported to any of the 3 credit bureaus. What should i do?
That’s what the dispute letter is for. Watch some of our other videos and they’ll help you understand how to use it.
Hello, I'm in ND. I got a court summons from a debt collectors lawyer stating a principal amount plus pre judgement interest and cost to date, nearly doubling the principal amount. Also stating costs and disbursements including service of process fees, filing fees, and other such relief as the court shall deem just will be added to the total amount owed.
I don't recall ever seeing this collections company's name before either through phone call or mail. I recognize the creditor but not the principal amount.
If I use the outline for a validation letter you posted, do I send it to the collection company or their lawyer? Does this stop the summons so I don't have to appear in court?
If you got a summons, go straight to a lawyer who handles deft defense or FDCPA claims in your area. Don’t mess around trying to fix this without professional help.
Is it true that you can dispute a debt by having them send you the original contract. If they can't provide that within 30 days, you can have the debt removed?
How about concating then to pay a less amount (pay to delete).
>Is it true that you can dispute a debt by having them send you the original contract. If they can't provide that within 30 days, you can have the debt removed?
NO. This is an internet myth.
Check out this video to see what really works: ua-cam.com/video/zcV35XzVzdA/v-deo.html
I got a letter from midland credit saying it is a “Attorney Review Planned” and it’s says final notice and in the back it says who was the company I owed and that it was charged off and that Midland creditors are now the sole owner of the debt….I live in Massachusetts and have no idea what to do cuz I didn’t receive a letter asking if I would like to dispute and I am not working so I have no idea what to do….can I still dispute or anything else besides pay because I am not working
If Midland hasn’t sent you the five day letter, they are probably breaking the law, and that means they might owe you money.
There are a ton of consumer lawyers in Massachusetts who can help you. Look for a lawyer who handles FDCPA work.
Hi there! I just received a letter from a collections agency for $25 but nothing has shown up on my credit report. I’m assuming I should send a letter to verify current debt amount? The bill is from 09/2022😭 or Would I still be able to just mail the form back with the money? I have not received any other mailings from them since then
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video to see what you should do next.
Don't pay them a dime.
The original debt was past the statue of years. Can the collection company still come after
Yes, but you can defend.
Somehow experian came back “Verified” for a collection account I have no knowledge of. Do I send another letter asking for proof of signed docs, to Experian? Or to the Collection Company itself?
Experian won't have, and couldn't give you. any signed documents. But the collection itself should tell you who the original creditor is.
If it doesn't, you can dispute the debt with the debt collector and request the name of the original creditor as part of your dispute.
You're in luck! We're dropping a new video Tuesday, Nov. 30, to tell you about the new rules that apply to debt validation letters for situations exactly like this one. Keep an eye out.
Great content! What if I have 3 small charged offs? $152, $205 and $300. Their with Discover, Open Sky and TD Target. Can I just pay them off and then dispute the info? I can see the date open, last active and last report are all over the map on all 3 account. I’m short on time I need to get them off within 60 days. Thanks!!!
Paying the accounts won't remove them from your credit report. Check our video about this:
ua-cam.com/video/UdM0_Zro8Bk/v-deo.html
Hi. Good evening thank you for this great info. But what if I never signed a responsibility account document or the estimate for the veterinary services they sent me to a lawyer for?
Hopefully you could provide some information as I had received an attorney letter I am not sure if to respond or not.
Thank you in advance.
I'm in Georgia.
If they overcharged you, or misled you in someway, that might be a problem. Whether you “signed“ something or not probably doesn’t matter.
But Georgia law may be different. I’m only license in Florida.
@@RWlawFL Thank you so much for your response. I am still trying to find a consumer protection lawyer in my area, unfortunately I've not succeeded. Do you know of one you could recommend. Thank you.
In Georgia, call Steve Koval: (404) 350-5900 and let him know we sent you.
So what I’ve heard is that the creditor sold the account so that means the contract ended and there is no obligation to pay.
Whoever told you that is wrong.
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
your videos have been really helpful. I got a letter from debt collector recently. the debt was obtained from a different state and i have moved to a different state, the debt is over 6 years old, the letter came in my maiden name cause my last name has changed and the letter was addressed to my sister's house and i don't live there. what should i do?
If you’re in Florida, give us a call.
If not, check and see if you can find a way they broke the law:
ricardolaw.com/fdcpa-course-sign-up/
What about in the scenario that the creditor never billed insurance correctly, so while in the process of fixing this error and re-billing insurance (and they said it wouldn’t go to collections while in this process) they sent it to collections anyway. Before insurance could fully pay whatever part they were going to pay….so I shouldn’t owe the full amount but I don’t know what I truly owe because it didn’t get completed with insurance.
This sounds like a dispute with the underlying creditor. If this is a Florida case, we may be able to help. If it's not, consult a lawyer in your state.
ricardolaw.com/contact/
Is there a letter I can send about a medical bill to a medical collection agency about the No Surprise Act?
You'd need to create a custom letter explaining why you feel the Act applies to you and what you want done to fix the problem. A one-size-fits-all letter would be worse than useless.
Wht if u got some from an attorney
If they have a lawyer, you need a lawyer.
In Florida? Call us today.
If not, check out our most recent video.
I cannot afford multiple certified mailings as they are nearly $8 now. I want to dispute and have them stop attempting to contact me. I'm in my last year of life, and have indemnified myself (judgment proof), and have transferred all assets several years ago. Which "One single letter" can I send?
Check out our free letters. If you can’t afford certified mail, then don’t.
If your only goal is to stop then from contacting you, just focus on the cease contact letter in our free package.
Hi, I tried to complete everything online about TRS , and this stuff of dispute but they asked me to put my rooting number and account number there, should I fill it or pass? What can I do?
Thanks
NEVER give a debt collector your bank information.
If you're still looking to dispute a claim, we have free letters forms available for your download. you can find them here: rwlaw.gumroad.com/l/letters
What if the amount my landlord sent to collections is inaccurate and wrong and it’s against what the lease says. What do I put in my letter
All you need to say is you dispute the debt. When they come back with “verification” and it’s wrong you can sue.
Hi, I sent the validation letter to the collection agency, on the validation i requested proof of the original contract or agreement bearing my signature but they did not send me what i asked for. I can tell that the collection agency do not have any contract or agreement signed by me. The collection agency is telling me that i need to sign the validation letter with my signature on it. DO I NEED TO SIGN THE VALIDATION LETTER? What laws under the FDCPA state that the validation letter must be sign?
Can you please give me your advice on what to respond to the collection agency on this situation.
They don’t have to give you a signed document. We’ve done several videos on debt validation and I recommend you watch each of them to get a complete answer to all these questions.
what about if I didnt know and the account is about 4 years old they ask me to make a small payment i did ill guess they open it again but now they charging me more for what i owen a first. is credit card debit and is from thir party minland credit management. can i still disputed or fight for or not since i made a small payment ? thank you for your time .
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video.
im so confused so we dont have to send to Equifax, Experian ?
Debt validation letters only go to debt collectors. If you want to dispute something on your credit report, those are different letters that we mostly don’t talk about here.
thank you.
You’re welcome!
What if the debt isn’t valid bc the contract upon which it was based was had a termination clause that was met. Daughter signed housing K with sorority, then transferred to another school and met all her obligations for establishing status to nullify the K. And now, 2 years later, we got a collection letter.
Sounds like a violation to me. Did any of this happen in Florida?
Question regarding when suing debt collectors. Is it worth it when the attorneys fee are taxable for plaintiff? Say the debt is $2 and the win is $1000 but attorneys fees are high. At the end of the day plaintiff might loose money. How much are attorneys fees in cases like this?
Under the FDCPA attorney fees are on top of the recovery. Our settlements always make sure the client gets their sue without having to worry about fees cutting into that.
@@RWlawFL I guess I didn’t phrase my question correctly. Attorneys fees are taxable correct? And plaintiff is responsible to pay taxes for those fees. There is a chance that depending on the plaintiff tax braket he or she might end up having to pay more on taxes than the actual debt that collectors are seeking?
We can’t give tax advice and any tax advice we might give is likely wrong. So whether a lawsuit will result in tax consequences would be a matter to discuss with a CPA or similar expert.
@@RWlawFL ok I understand. Thank you for the prompt replies.
How do you know if the amount is correct? My credit report says something totally different
Watch our Debt Collection Battle Plan video to see what you should do next. Sounds like you've found a factual inaccuracy.
What if I never received any letter from AWS Collections?? Which I have never received any heads up or call from this AWS Collection agency. But they already put this collection account on my Experian Account??
No one Hass to send a letter before reporting a debt to The credit reporting bureaus. They only have to do that if they’re actively trying to collect from you through communications or court action.
What does that mean for the debt validation scenario?
It’s a gray area in the law. There appears to be no requirement that they respond to your dispute, unless you disputed in response to the 1692g notice.
My next question would be, if you really don’t recognize the original creditor as reported on your credit report, and they should be reporting the original creditor, then you may be the victim of identity theft and you could possibly proceed that way.
@@RWlawFL I’m only aware of this collection because it popped up on Experian. It just say AWS Collection. So since Experian is claiming it’s verified, should I send a letter to experian asking how exactly did they verify this collection? Or send a letter directly to AWS Collection directly?
If it's inaccurate, obsolete, or otherwise incomplete, you can either send a follow-up dispute or go directly to suing them for any damages you suffered.
I’ve written a verification letter and sent it back in July, it is now OCTOBER. For background, it is a medical bill on a day I did receive service. However, I don’t think I was reached out by my hospitals billing and it was went straight to collections. I am trying to understand if this physicians bill is truly mine now that it not coming from the hospital/provider.
I sent an email AND certified mail, in which they have received both. I don’t want this wait time to hurt my credit even further, somehow. I requested an itemized statement along with my letter to prove my debt but they’re saying the hospital has not been able to get them the statement so it’s some sort of waiting game…
Another this is that I ran 2/3 credit reports to try to see if my account appeared there, I don’t see it. If that normal to not report to the credit bureaus?
I’m confused, what can I do? I’ve reached out to them via phone call to get an update every week at this point.
If it’s not on your credit report, and you haven’t heard anything from them since you disputed, then everything is working as planned. Don’t rock the boat.
But if they contact you without responding to your dispute that may be a violation of law.
When the Dunning period passes, now it’s “Assumed” to be your debt is this why the debt buyers start reporting to the credit bureaus?
They can report whenever they want, and don’t have to wait for that period to expire.
They do not have no authorization to report any activity to CRAs.. it is your private information that cannot furnish without permissible purpose..
Unfortunately this is wrong. Dermatology collectors don’t need your permission to report unpaid debts. The main requirement is that their reports must be factually correct.
What if they already have the last four of your ssn# on the notice?
That doesn’t change anything I’ve said in the video.
How would I write a letter for a collection I found on my credit report that I don’t recognize?
A debt validation letter is the wrong tool for this job. You can send a dispute letter to the credit bureau, (not the original creditor or the debt collector) for any account on your credit report that is inaccurate, obsolete, or incomplete. They have a duty to make a "reasonable investigation" and correct inaccurate information, and to remove information that is obsolete or cannot be verified. If they fail to make this investigation, or fail to correct or remove information that's not accurate, complete, and timely, you can sue them for any damages suffered because of that failure.
I received two default judgements from creditors that are now showing up on my credit report as “collections”. Can these be disputed?
A court has already decided they are legitimate. You need to remove the default judgments first.
@@RWlawFL Remove by settling the debts?
No. Check out this post we wrote a couple of weeks ago:
ua-cam.com/channels/cd-Vm_H-CX6sVcOQMBehgQ.htmlcommunity?lb=Ugkx7RnV1rmhA9taQXnMQaEiR57pHgdPjQAJ
I'm already paying a debt relief company. Is there anyway I can get out of it?
It might be too late. You need to read your contract very carefully-but it's likely they've done damage that can't be repaired.
what if you've never received a call nor a letter about the debt?
Then there’s nothing to respond to.
what do i do when a debt collector is sending me letters to my business address. Is this a good letter to send and what should be said.
You can tell them that contacting you at a particular address is "inconvenient" and they have to stop sending letters there.
Check out our free dispute letter kit:
rwlaw.gumroad.com/l/letters
I had an accident in NH, and I had no insurance (legal there). A debt collector called me, but has sent nothing written. I got a suspension notice from NH DMV. They said after a $25 restoration fee "Security required or an agreement signed by both parties indicating the matter has been settled . . ." What does the security required refer to? If NH does not determine fault in accidents, which is what the cop told me, how can they take the collection agency's word?
Because I'm not in NH, and don't know NH law, none of this makes any sense to me.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I used to work for a company about 3 years ago or more. I had to quite my job and leave for a family emergency outside the United States, i did disused the emergency and let my supervisor/team leader know that i was going to leave and wouldn't be able to come back to job as i should have. The company/my former employer kept sending me my salary for some weeks when i was gone. i thought that was a bonus or maybe they counted those as my paid holidays and then after about two months or so it stopped. Since i was gone i wasn't able to contact my former employer, but i was in touch with my supervisor. After almost 1 year, i received an email telling me to refund that (4 to 5 thousand) . I did not reply back to the email. I moved to a different address after i came back, Now after a long time, i visited my old address, and the management office had a new letter for me. It is from a debt collector showing a crazy amount (more than double the actual amount) debt along with a letter with some options to chose from. Now my question is, can they legally do anything about it? would they keep increasing the amount and will be held liable for that? should i contact the debt collector or file a dispute? or just ignore it?
It depends on your state law and whether you need to repay the additional salary you got.
What state are you in?
@@RWlawFL Thank you for the reply, I am in Washington state.
Unfortunately, we don't know the laws in Washington state. You'll need to find a lawyer near you who's familiar with this area of law.
hello i recently received a letter from the debt collector about a bill i owed to the hospital. im VERY new to this and im kinda scared of getting a lawsuit/sued or possibly having my credit ruined from this. the only reason i didn't pay the owed bill was because i can't afford it, nor my family can help me. i recently did get health insurance though. is there ways to deal about this? do i need to call my hospital? what will the collector do?
Many hospitals have charity waiver programs for those who can’t pay. Look into that first.
When a creditor's letter (of balance due) alerts you of potential identity theft or fraud (ultimately, not my debt) & you notify the creditor it's not my debt...then, a law firm begins collecting the disputed debt, are there different responses or actions to take? Should I also be sending letters to the original creditor validating & disputing the debt? Thanks from Tampa Bay.
Joseph, if you’re dealing with a law firm on the other side, and you live in Tampa, please call us ASAP.
If original debt collection notice has two names on it, for example both spouses. Should both people write separate dispute letters? Because only one spouse has the debt…
If it is a joint account, or a joint debt, and the debt collector said a single letter to both of you, then you probably do need to send a dispute letter for each.
@@RWlawFL ok it’s not a joint debt but they are trying to make it look like a joint debt. The original contract with the original company only had one spouses name on the original contract.
If they're claiming that both parties owe the debt but it's only one, that would be a violation. I'd want to confirm that it was only one spouse who owed the debt; if I was satisfied about that, BOTH spouses would have a lawsuit for the false statement that both both spouses received.
@@RWlawFL ok great thank you for your response, now do I still send out two seperate dispute letters to them asking them to confirm or validate the date ? I guess I’m trying to think of how I would word this when I send them the dispute letter. I have the original contract with the company with the proof it was only in one spouses name. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Typically I would have each person send their own dispute letter. But I'm not sure if it really matters whether it's one or two.
I have two collection accounts that I had a dispute with but no answer and no validation letter. them, what I do next? Bronx, New York
At this point, it's probably going to be best for you to speak with a debt collection lawyer in New York. There may be a violation there, and there may not.
I have to pay for the duspute letter sample ?
Not at all.
Go here: rwlaw.gumroad.com/l/letters
Enter "0" in the "fair price" window and you'll get the sample letters for free.
What if I've done the dispute, they respond, the debt is probably mine, but they never report there debt as disputed to the credit bureaus? Is this violation able to be sued? Would you sue for each credit bureau that was not notified? Ie. Three credit bureaus, three violations?
If they report but fail to report the dispute, they’ve broken the law and you can sue the collector under the FDCPA. It would only be one lawsuit with three violations.
What if I owe an amount but it includes ridiculous "admin"fees which are more than the amount owed for the tolls? How do I word that to get them to send me an updated bill showing the actual charges without the admin fees?
The fees are either legal or illegal-depending on your state law and the contract you agreed to when you took the debt.
If the fees are illegal, you can sue the debt collector for trying to collect them. (Don't bother negotiating with companies that do this)
If the fees are allowed by your contract, it probably doesn't matter how "ridiculous" they are unless they somehow break state law.
Can I ask, why not sign the letter?
Because you don't need to.
Hey I have a question. If the company tried to collect debt and couldn’t get you to pay, don’t they write it off to their insurance company as a charge off…which means they’ve been compensated for the debt then they sell the original debt to a company who will come after you for payment….ISNT this company who bought original debt trying to collect on this debt twice ? How is this Legal that they can try to get payment from a debt that’s been charged off meaning it’s paid…not by you but insurance swttlement
There is no such insurance for the vast majority of debts, and what little there is (usually mortgage insurance) requires the insured or allows the insurer to go after the borrower for any unpaid balance.