Best report
ϟ
Dec 11, 2013
Contact your county Clerk of Court and inquire if any paperwork has been filed. My guess is that is has not.
Inform this firm that you are demanding a notice of validation be mailed to you. NOT e-mail or fax. As per federal regulations under the FDCPA. By paying them that $20.00 you may have made a mistake. You have basically "validated" their claim by doing so. Regardless, if they are legitimate they will have no objection to supplying you with written proof of their claim. If they refuse to do so it can be construed that they have no valid claim to the debt.
Contact a consumer attorney or your local legal aid organization for advice. These types of collectors rely on the ignorance of their targets. By educating yourself as to the laws in your state regarding the collection of debt you will have armed yourself with the tools necessary to combat unethical debt collectors.
If you do legitimately owe this debt, by all means, pay it or make arrangements to do so. But VERIFY that the collection firm is legitimate and is acting in accordance with state & federal law. A legitimate firm will be more than happy to provide you with a valid, physical address. If they refuse to do so, pay them nothing. NEVER pay a collector via a pre-paid card or authorize access to your bank accounts or credit card numbers. A legitimate firm will be more than willing to accept payment by mail. USPS money orders are, by far, the best method of payment. A legitimate firm will have no objection to this method. A shady one will not for fear of government reprisal should violations of the law become apparent. If you can afford the extra few bucks, mail all payments via registered mail/return receipt requested. This may be unnecessary, but it will have the effect of keeping "Honest people honest".
I suspect that you're dealing with a fraudulent and/or bogus collection outfit. Do your homework and ascertain their authenticity before you pay another dime. Research & know your rights as a consumer under the FDCPA. It's easy. Just Google it. Look to the right of your screen. Under Latest Articles" you will find "Harassing calls from...". Read through it. You will learn of all the things that shady collection outfits do NOT want you to know.
Good luck to you & keep us posted. 'Til then...
Live Well.
Gunnar
Inform this firm that you are demanding a notice of validation be mailed to you. NOT e-mail or fax. As per federal regulations under the FDCPA. By paying them that $20.00 you may have made a mistake. You have basically "validated" their claim by doing so. Regardless, if they are legitimate they will have no objection to supplying you with written proof of their claim. If they refuse to do so it can be construed that they have no valid claim to the debt.
Contact a consumer attorney or your local legal aid organization for advice. These types of collectors rely on the ignorance of their targets. By educating yourself as to the laws in your state regarding the collection of debt you will have armed yourself with the tools necessary to combat unethical debt collectors.
If you do legitimately owe this debt, by all means, pay it or make arrangements to do so. But VERIFY that the collection firm is legitimate and is acting in accordance with state & federal law. A legitimate firm will be more than happy to provide you with a valid, physical address. If they refuse to do so, pay them nothing. NEVER pay a collector via a pre-paid card or authorize access to your bank accounts or credit card numbers. A legitimate firm will be more than willing to accept payment by mail. USPS money orders are, by far, the best method of payment. A legitimate firm will have no objection to this method. A shady one will not for fear of government reprisal should violations of the law become apparent. If you can afford the extra few bucks, mail all payments via registered mail/return receipt requested. This may be unnecessary, but it will have the effect of keeping "Honest people honest".
I suspect that you're dealing with a fraudulent and/or bogus collection outfit. Do your homework and ascertain their authenticity before you pay another dime. Research & know your rights as a consumer under the FDCPA. It's easy. Just Google it. Look to the right of your screen. Under Latest Articles" you will find "Harassing calls from...". Read through it. You will learn of all the things that shady collection outfits do NOT want you to know.
Good luck to you & keep us posted. 'Til then...
Live Well.
Gunnar