Before September 20, 1977, consumers had to deal with overly aggressive debt collection tactics that included threats and frequent phone calls made at all hours of the day. In response to growing consumer discontent, the United States Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Considered the most influential federal consumer protection law, the FDCPA bans the long standing practice of harassing and intimidating consumers into paying off delinquent credit card and personal loan balances.
The FDCPA also makes it illegal for debt collection agencies to implement deceptive debt collection tactics. Examples of deception include impersonating the IRS or a law enforcement agency.
Another deceptive debt collection practice occurs whenever a third party debt collector claims a consumer owes money on a debt that the consumer is not obligated to pay off. How you dispute a debt goes a long way towards determining whether you can get a bill collector off your back.
How to Dispute a Debt
Speaking about a debt over the phone with a debt collection agency is not a good idea. You can tape record the phone call, but it is much more effective to send a third party debt collector such as Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP a debt dispute letter that contests the validity of an alleged consumer debt.
The debt dispute letter you send a bill collector must contain balanced language that effectively contests the debt in question. Five days after contacting you for the first time, a debt collection agency must confirm the existence of the debt. You have 30 days to respond to the confirmation by sending a debt dispute letter.
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According to the FDCPA, Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLC is not allowed to make false statements in regard to an alleged debt. This includes claiming you owe money on an outstanding credit card or personal loan account, when in fact you are not legally responsible for taking care of the alleged debt.
Know How to Write a Debt Dispute Letter
Begin a debt dispute letter by listing your name and contact information. Before you write “To whom it may concern,” make sure to include the account number linked to the debt in question.
The first paragraph should inform the debt collection agency about why you are contesting the alleged debt. Within the second paragraph, your FDCPA attorney will explain the consequences of not abiding by your demand that the bill collector must prove the debt even exists, much less whether the amount claimed to be owed is the correct amount. Finish the letter by telling the debt collection agency it has 30 days to prove the validity of the debt in question.
The Importance of Hiring a Consumer Protection Lawyer
You can expect Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP to have at least one highly skilled attorney on its team. Ensure the balance of legal power remains even by speaking with a state licensed federal consumer protection lawyer who has successfully litigated numerous FDCPA cases. Get your Free Case Evaluation today to get connected with a creditor harassment attorney that is licensed in your area today.
*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 Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
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