You arrive home from work one night to find a certified letter in the mailbox from a debt collection agency such as Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC.
Although the letter lasts just a few sentences, it is clear the third party debt collector wants you to take care of an outstanding personal debt.
However, you paid off the debt in question months ago, and you have the paperwork to prove that you fulfilled your end of the debt deal.
If a bill collector tried to get you to pay twice for a delinquent credit card or personal loan account, you should lean on a landmark consumer protection law that bans companies from deceiving consumers by double dipping on the collection of a personal debt.
Passed by the United State Congress on September 20, 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collection agencies from threatening or deceiving consumers in any way.
The federal consumer protection law makes it illegal for a company to impersonate the IRS or a law enforcement agency, as well as send a letter demanding the liquidation of assets to pay off a personal debt.
A third party debt collector like Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC also cannot try to collect money on a personal debt that a consumer already paid off.
Dispute the Debt In A Timely Manner
Although the FDCPA sets the legal standards for third party debt collectors to follow, it is up to consumers to dispute delinquent debts by sending a certified dispute letter.
Leaving voice messages that a company does not respond to is not an effective strategy for contesting an alleged debt.
A formal debt dispute letter sent in a timely manner via certified mail starts the paper trail that can end the harassment delivered by a bill collector.
You have 30 days after receiving a debt confirmation letter to contest a debt by responding with a formal and certified dispute letter.
The company that sent you the correspondence claiming you owe money on a debt you already paid off should have sent the letter by certified mail to start the clock on the collection of the debt.
![Sample Dispute Letter To Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC*]()
Important Elements of a Debt Dispute Letter
Date the debt dispute letter, as well as add your contact information at the top of the letter before presenting your dispute.
You should ask Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC for evidence the debt exists, such as requesting the account number and the balance due on the account.
The name and contact information of the original creditor is an essential part of a debt dispute letter, as it gives you a place to start for investigating the validity of the debt in question.
Since third party debt collectors must acquire a license to conduct business in the state where you live, asking a bill collector to prove the company has the legal right to collect delinquent consumer debts can lead to the company dropping its pursuit of the alleged debt.
Finally, your consumer protection attorney should invoke a clause within the FDCPA that requires a debt collection agency to forward every document that pertains to all communications the company had with you.
Contact a state licensed FDCPA lawyer today to learn more about how the federal consumer protection law grants you the power to dispute an alleged debt.
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 Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.