Having a debt collection agency hound you to pay off an outstanding credit card or personal loan balance can cause tremendous anxiety. Many third party debt collectors pursue the collection of debts with a zeal that eventually wears down consumers.
Until September 1977, consumers had little legal recourse to fight back against bill collectors. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) changed the way consumers and debt collection agencies such as Rash Curtis & Associates interact.
The FDCPA contains one critical provision that allows consumers to contest delinquent debt claims made by bill collectors. However, you must send a dispute letter within 30 days of the first contact made by Rash Curtis & Associates to enjoy the dispute letter provision written into the FDCPA.
After receiving a dispute letter sent via certified mail, a debt collection agency is prohibited from contacting you again until the dispute is resolved. Remember to keep copies of all correspondence sent to Rash Curtis & Associates to have evidence available in case you file a lawsuit against the third party debt collector.
Drafting a Legally Valid Dispute Letter
According to the FDCPA, a debt collection agency must present identification information that includes the name of the caller or person sending a debt collection notice. The third party debt collector must also let you know that you have the legal right to dispute a debt within 30 days of receiving the initial notice.
In addition to the right to contest an alleged debt, the FDCPA grants consumers several other rights that prevent debt collection agencies from using aggressive tactics such as making threats. Bill collectors must also call consumers between the hours from 8am to 9pm.
Moreover, the FDCPA clearly defines the right of consumers to send dispute letters to bill collectors such as Rash Curtis & Associates. You should consider working with a licensed FDCPA lawyer to ensure the letter you send to dispute an outstanding credit card or personal loan account covers all the legal bases.
Actual Dispute Letter Sent to Rash Curtis & Associates
A dispute letter you send Rash Curtis & Associates must present your personal information at the top of the letter followed by the contact information of the debt collection agency. Adding the date is important, as it confirms you sent the letter within the 30-day time frame mandated by the FDCPA.
Although the content of a dispute letter will differ among consumers, you can expect the letter to read something like this:
Your debt collection agency contacted me on November 18, 2018 pertaining to an alleged debt I owe. This letter represents the legal document that formally contests the validity of the debt in question. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, my lawyer wants you to submit documentation that verifies the amount of the debt and the complete contact information for the original creditor.
We also want your company to present evidence that I am legally obligated to pay off the debt in question and documentation that proves you have a license to conduct business as a debt collection agency in the state where I reside.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Date
Speak with an experienced consumer protection lawyer today to learn more about how to draft a compelling dispute letter for Rash Curtis & Associates.
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*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Rash Curtis & Associates or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.