What is a Written Validation of a Debt Collection?

You may have heard the adage "don't say anything to the debt collector, because they will just keep calling". What is this really telling us? It's telling us that the only way to get them to stop calling is to simply ignore them. This is good advice, but there are times when ignoring a debt collector is not the best option. There are times when the best way to get them to stop calling is to tell them that you do not want to be bothered.

A couple of years ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an initiative to help people who had received threatening phone calls or letters from debt collectors. The main purpose of this initiative was to provide consumers with information on how to handle debt collectors in general. At the time, many people were confused about what the FTC meant by 'silence is golden'. If a person says "I don't want your trouble" then the collector is required to stop contacting you. If they continue to bother you, then there is a problem and the problem should be escalated to a representative of the agency.

The problem is that there is no such thing as silence when it comes to debt collectors. If a collector continues to harass you, or even offers to work with you to resolve a debt, then you should take the appropriate steps to report them to the appropriate authorities. In some cases, you can go so far as to take the matter to the Office of Fair Debt Collections. In this case, you will need to write to the collection agency letting them know that you will not be talking with them, and will require them to leave you alone. The OGC can then escalate the matter to the Department of Revenue, which can also result in fines and legal action. The best way to avoid serious consequences is to be proactive and learn the 11-word phrase to stop debt collectors from harassing you.

The first step you should take if you find yourself in a situation where you are being harassed by a debt collector is to document all contact. You should record the date, time, and location of each incident. The next step you should take is to make an inventory of everything the collector has talked about to you, including the subject matter of your conversation. If a collection agency tries to use transition words, or tell you that they will only collect a specific amount of money, record their claim and the amount you will need to pay to stop the harassment.

When debt collectors harass you over an unpaid bill, the best way to stop the pressure on you to pay is to simply ignore them. You should inform your creditor that you will not be paying the bill, and you will send them a letter stating that you will not be paying this particular bill. Do not respond to the letter, and call the creditor immediately. Once you have done so, and the collector has not followed through with harassing you or sending you additional letters, you can leave the area. Do not let them threaten you again, and make sure to call the phone number provided in the letter as soon as you leave the area. Click here for more details about 11 word phrase to stop debt collectors

This process is not only designed to stop you from getting more harassed, but to also ensure that you have evidence if the collector decides to follow up after you have gone silent. Remember, written validation is a binding agreement between you and the collector. Once the collector obtains written validation from you, they cannot legally follow up without going through the proper documentation.