Before September 20, 1977, consumers had little recourse in fighting back against the aggressive tactics implemented by debt collection agencies. With the enactment of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), American consumers leveled the legal playing field against unethical third party debt collectors. One of the legal rights granted by the FDCPA is to allow consumers to dispute outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts. Your FDCPA approved dispute right is one of the most powerful tools you have to fight back against bill collectors such as Wakefield & Associates, Inc.
However, just knowing about the FDCPA dispute right is not enough to keep a debt collection agency off your back. You also must know that once you dispute an alleged debt, the third party debt collector must stop all debt collection activities.
If the bill collector cannot prove you owe money on the debt in question, the company must never contact you again. Three components comprise a dispute letter sent to a third party debt collector: the notice of the debt, the right to dispute the debt, and the right for you to ask for confirmation of the debt.
Ask a FDCPA Lawyer to Draft a Dispute Letter
Representative of debt collection agencies are required by the FDCPA to inform consumers about their identities. They also must let you know that you have 30 days to dispute an alleged debt.
The FDCPA prohibits third party debt collectors from using abusive language or making threats of any kind when attempting to collect delinquent debts. By working with a licensed FDCPA lawyer, you can take action against a bill collector by filing a lawsuit and seeking monetary damages for violations of the landmark consumer protection law.
Your attorney will help you draft a compelling and legally binding dispute letter. Far too many consumers try to write dispute letters, without consulting with an experienced consumer protection lawyer.
Language written in a dispute letter should remain emotion free, as well as reference the FDCPA and other consumer protection statutes that are applicable to your case. An accomplished FDCPA attorney will meet every deadline and make sure the dispute letter arrives to Wakefield & Associates, Inc. by certified mail.
Certified dispute letters leave behind a paper trail your lawyer can use in court.
![Sample Dispute Letter to Wakefield & Associates*]()
Sample Dispute Letter for Wakefield & Associates
The dispute letter you send Wakefield & Associates will include a few unique legal elements that pertain to your specific case. Nonetheless, the dispute letter should include several requests that require a debt collection agency to share information with you.
Start by adding your name and address at the top of the letter, before drafting the main section of the dispute letter.
Here are the requests to include in a dispute letter:
- The amount claimed to be owed on a credit card or personal loan account
- The name and address of the original creditor
- Proof the company has a license to collect outstanding debts in the state where you live
- Any information about a legal judgment
- Documentation proving you owe the money claimed by the bill collector
The dispute letter should include a reference to the FDCPA, especially section 809(b), which informs Wakefield and Associates, Inc. that you plan to keep records of all communications between you and the debt collection agency.
Speak with a FDCPA attorney to learn how the consumer advocacy law protects you against unsavory third party debt collectors.
Additional Resources
*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 Wakefield & Associates, Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.