Someone left a very official/legal sounding message on my phone, I found out it's some debt collecting agency. The message asks me to call them for a "business proposition" or something like that. I'm pretty sure that I don't owe any money to anyone. Should I contact these people or not? I'm worried that contacting them will start some nightmare. If I should contact them what do I tell them/ don't tell them?
2007-05-17 09:23:28 · 14 answers · asked by nati67 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
They've actually left messages twice. Both times they actually state my name, that it's an important business matter/issue ( I forget the exact wording), they give me a number, extension and a case number to call them back. I looked up their 800 number and it's a legitimate debt collecting agency. But like I said, I don't owe anyone.
2007-05-17 09:38:48 · update #1
It is most likley a debt collector for some debt they THINK you owe. They are not allowed to talk to anybody except you(or your spouse) about the reason they are calling. This is why they leave a message like " This is an Important Business Issue" and not something like "This is XYZ collection agency and we need to talk to you about your Credit Card account that is past due for $1000."
If you do call them back up do not admit to anything. If they say do you know about this account just tell them NO. You can give them your Address to send proof to your house. But do not give them any personal information such as your SSN, bank account info, place of employment.
Also, get the address of their office and follow up the call with a certified letter stating that you do not know of the debt and you require proof. By law they are required to send this to you. If they don't they must stop contacting you about the debt.
2007-05-17 10:18:29 · answer #1 · answered by OC1999 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a collector, the message will probably say "this is a very important business matter" or something like that. If they've only called once, then just ignore the call. However, it's likely they have called you by mistake and will keep calling you until you answer the phone and inform them that they have the wrong #. If you don't owe any debts, then don't worry about it. Wait until they call again (they will if they think you are the debtor they are looking for), they will ask for a specific person, and when it's not you, you can say you have the wrong #, please stop calling me. If they continue to call, threaten to report them for harassment. Someone with bad debts was giving out my phone # and as soon as you tell the collector that they have the wrong #, they usually don't call again.
2007-05-17 09:31:12 · answer #2 · answered by Amy27 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you request validation and the collector does not respond in 30 days, you can send a letter, with a copy of your validation request, to the credit bureau disputing the deorgatory item as the collector failed to validate the debt. However, the collection agency can just sell the debt to another collection agency who can put the item back on your credit file and hound your for payment. There are a lot of validation request form letters out there that are chock full of bad information. Some are very confrontational. It is much better to use your own words. Some of the worst form letters quote "per the Fair Credit Reporting Act or Fair Debt Collection Practices Act" and attribute extra requrements that are NOT included in either. Better NOT to refer to either.
2016-05-21 22:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by johna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most efficient benefit of availing the service is this will help you to concentrate on business only without losing productivity of your company. The debt collected by an organization usually has highly experienced and specialized debt collectors, they never damage the relationships between you and your customer while collecting money. So when you have hired a debt collection agency, rest assured that you will be able to have your money without admitting any guilt. Note that, every debt collection agency follows specified guidelines, while making the recovery.
2015-01-14 15:19:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 0⤋
If possible you should find out what vendor/company the original debt originated from and then you should contact them in order to dispute the validity of the charges. If you really shouldnt have been charged then they should be able to research and/or reverse the charges. Debt collection agencies will not help you to disolve the situation - their main purpose is to collect the amounts reported to them. You should try and resolve this as soon as possible because the debt collection agency could get a court order and have your wages garnished.
2007-05-17 09:30:37 · answer #5 · answered by mandymemore 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, first of all do NOT listen to the people who say ignore it or don't return the call!
Ignoring it will not make it go away! I PROMISE you!
Return the call, state your name and the case number and NOTHING else. Ask the representative on the phone what the collection is in reference to and any other pertinent information they can provide to you.
If it turns out you recognize the company sending you to collections, terminate the call and contact the complaining company yourself and address it with them...
Here are a couple of "DONT'S":
Do NOT give them your Social Security number!
Do NOT give them any email addresses! (Too long to explain this one)
Do NOT tell them anything they do not already know; address, date of birth, mothers maiden name, etc...
You cannot ignore this because if it does "belong to you" you are only hurting yourself and if it does NOT belong to you it is best to straighten it out now and not have it turn up on your credit report as bad debt. Oh YES, they know enough about you already!! Are you willing to take the chance it may show up on your Credit report and deal with those knuckleheads to get it removed later?
Handle it!!
Trust me!!!
Oh and another thing...Those online credit reports are not all they claim to be...they often contain out dated information!
They say the report you buy is good for 30 days? BS, what you get the day you buy it is all there ever is, even if it changes 5 times in that 30 days you will still see the same report you purchased the first day!
Go right to each of the three credit companies individually, we are all entitled to our credit reports for free right from the agency itself!
2007-05-17 10:05:55 · answer #6 · answered by jl724_99 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree, be very careful, don't return their call. Most bill collectors have caller id and will have your number! I had to change my phone number, but then a collection agency that I called got my new one and I had to write them a letter to tell them to stop harrassing me. If you think you owe money, get a copy of your credit report for FREE.
www.annualcreditreport.com. it is free.
2007-05-17 09:32:05 · answer #7 · answered by C S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not contact them. They will call back if it is legitimate. It is possible that you owe a medical bill though. I recently got a call that a hospital bill from two years ago was not paid by my insurance. I never got a bill, just a call from a collector. I had moved but had forwarded my mail so I am pretty sure they never sent me anything.
2007-05-17 09:31:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't contact them. If it's a bill collector they will leave an account number. Sounds like a scam.
2007-05-17 09:28:28 · answer #9 · answered by msbedouin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd call them. Find out what they're talking about. Don't give your address, social security number, job, income, or anything else that they do not already have (i.e. name and phone number). It might be a legit call but their business made a mistake.
2007-05-17 09:34:58 · answer #10 · answered by CP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋