If you have been approached by a debt collection agency like Scott & Associates, you should be aware of your rights. The debt collector is legally able to contact you about a debt they think you owe, but they must not pester you, specifically contact you too often or at anti-social times of the day or night.
They must stop contacting you if you request them to stop and they must also provide you with a debt validation notice if you request one. Their behavior is regulated by federal legislation in the form of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
The Act sets out what a debt collector can and cannot do. A violation of the Act allows you to file a lawsuit against the agency with up to $1,000 in damages that can be claimed. A successful lawsuit does not cancel your debt but does help to prevent overbearing behavior from the debt collector.
Scott & Associates –Company Profile
Scott & associates is a Carrollton Texas based debt collection service. They use various phone numbers and go under a variety of names but are a genuine debt collection agency nonetheless. They have been in business since 2000.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received various complaints made against the company, 24 in total in the last 3 years, but have still decided to give it a rating of A+, the highest in their ranking system.
![Did Scott & Associates Not Validate Your Debt?*]()
What Is a Debt Validation Letter? And Why Do You Need It?
A debt validation notice or letter is something that any good debt collector should provide before asking you to repay a debt. It provided details of the amount of debt you owe the name of the creditor, when the debt was incurred, how it should be repaid and any other details.
If you don’t receive a debt validation notice from the debt collector who is contacting you, you should send a request for one. Failure to respond within 5 days of receipt of a debt verification request from you could lead to the agency being sued.
You have a year from the date of the violation to file a lawsuit but it makes sense to initiate legal action as soon as possible.
Talk to an Attorney Today
Taking on a major firm is never an easy challenge. It is best to talk to a debt collection attorney before taking legal action against them. The FDCPA permits a debtor to file a lawsuit against the debt collector for up to a year after any violation of the Act.
Damages are capped at $1,000 together with payment of legal fees, including attorney’s fee and court cost. Fill out our Free Case Evaluation to be connected with an FDCPA attorney who handles consumer law cases in your state.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Scott & Associates, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.