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  • #280 BBB 10-28-10 1

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    1) If contacted by a debt collector about a debt you don't owe, request written proof and verify the debt is legitimate. Contact the credit bureaus to check your reports for errors. 2) If the debt is incorrect, send a letter to the debt collector and credit bureaus to correct the false information. You can also file a complaint with the FTC. 3) Under federal law, tell the debt collector to stop contacting you if the debt is invalid, and send confirmation via certified mail. Keep records of your requests. 4) Check your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and report any violations to the FTC and your local BBB. Taking these steps can help resolve invalid debt collection

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    1) If contacted by a debt collector about a debt you don't owe, request written proof and verify the debt is legitimate. Contact the credit bureaus to check your reports for errors. 2) If the debt is incorrect, send a letter to the debt collector and credit bureaus to correct the false information. You can also file a complaint with the FTC. 3) Under federal law, tell the debt collector to stop contacting you if the debt is invalid, and send confirmation via certified mail. Keep records of your requests. 4) Check your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and report any violations to the FTC and your local BBB. Taking these steps can help resolve invalid debt collection

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    9 views1 page

    #280 BBB 10-28-10 1

    Uploaded by

    bmoak
    1) If contacted by a debt collector about a debt you don't owe, request written proof and verify the debt is legitimate. Contact the credit bureaus to check your reports for errors. 2) If the debt is incorrect, send a letter to the debt collector and credit bureaus to correct the false information. You can also file a complaint with the FTC. 3) Under federal law, tell the debt collector to stop contacting you if the debt is invalid, and send confirmation via certified mail. Keep records of your requests. 4) Check your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and report any violations to the FTC and your local BBB. Taking these steps can help resolve invalid debt collection

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    of 1

    MAGNOLIA

    CLIPPING SERVICE

    (601) 856·0911 J (205) 758.8610


    HA TTIESBURG AMERICAN

    HATTIESBURG, MS

    Circulation =26509

    DAILY

    09/24/2010
    II'"11111111111111111111111111111 III

    - .Correct any errors.~


    confirming you do not owe
    the debt, you may want to
    .correct any incorrect submis­
    sion rd.ated to the debt cap­
    B~LLMOAK
    tured on your credit report.
    Contact the company that
    has provided the information
    SStepsto
    to the reporting bureau by .
    writing a detailed letter and
    handleJoebt
    include copies of pertinent
    documents which back your
    case. For more information,
    collectors
    visit www.ftc.gov.
    · FA DEBT COIllCTOR is
    • Weed out fraud and er­
    . rors. Check your credit report

    I contacting you about a


    debt you know you don't
    owe, explaining your case can
    with the three major credit re­
    porting bureaus, Experian,
    Equifax and Transunion every
    . be an uphill battle. Whether year by visiting www.annual­
    it's a case of mistaken identi­ creditreportcom. If you've
    ty, an honest error or identity been the victim"Qf fraud or
    theft, the Better.Bu.siness Bu­ identity theft, you may also be
    reau recommends taking five eligible to view your reports
    Steps to fight back against er­ for free.
    roneous debt collectors. • Tell them to stop contact­
    According to a 2010 report, ing you. According to federal
    the FfC received 119,364 law, a debt collector cannot
    complaints about third-party continue to contactyou-at
    and in-house debt collectors work .or home-if you tell them
    last year, up from 104,766 in to stop. After confirming you .
    2008. The BBB serving Missis­ do not owe the debt in ques­
    sippi has hanaIed nearly 300 tion, you may cease all con­
    cases against collection com­ tact from the debt collection
    panies over the past two years. company by sending a letter
    Besides allegations of harass­ (via certified mail) to the debt
    ment and intimidation tac­ collector advising them to
    tics, the most common issue cease contact. Keep a copy of
    complained about is that con­ the letter and the refurn re- .
    sumersare being contacted ceipt for verification purposes.
    about debts they say they did­ • file a complaint with the
    n 't incur. Being wrongly asso­ Federal Trade Commission.
    ciated with a debt can result Familiariie yoursdf with the
    in damage to your credit and consumer protections provid­
    reputation. ed under the FDCPA. If a debt
    If you're being pursued for collector violates the law, re­
    a debt you don't think you port them to the FfC - the
    owe,BBB recommends taking federal government's agency
    the following five steps: overseeing fair debt collection
    • Request written. proof of practices. You should also file
    the debt. By law, a debt collec­ . a complaint with your BBB at
    tion agency must provide you ms.bbb.org.
    with a validation notice with­ FOr more information,
    in five days of contacting you check out BBB' s Managing
    about the debt. If you would Credit - Made Simpler at
    like to get verification of the www.bbb.org/credit­
    debt, sen<i a written request to management!.
    the debt collector within 30
    days after you receive the vali­ Bill Moak is president of the
    dation notice. Once you have Better Business Bureau of
    the name and contact infor­ MissiSSippi. E-mail him at
    mation for the agency, con­ ~.bbbms.org.
    firm they are a legitimate debt
    . collector with YO\lr BBB at
    ms..bbb.org. Afteryoll confirm
    that you don't owe the debt, .
    . advise thed~bt collector you
    do not owe the debt and ask
    them to stop contacting you
    (see step 4).

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