You are here:
Business Debt/debt
Advertisement
Question
Hello, Michelle.
Before I consult with local counselor I'd like to get advice from you.
I'm getting phone calls from Law firm/debt collectors, they don't state exact issue and leave a prerecorded and live messages. I searched the numbers on the web. There are forums on similar cases when Law firms buy off debts and try to collect $ from people. The general advice on every forum - don't answer, don't call back, if they contact you - don't volunteer ANY info.
What do you suggest me to do?
Thank you for your time,
Alec
P.S. I am sure I don't have any debts and never had them.
Would you shed some light on this please: http://www.budhibbs.com/cease_comm.htm
Alec,
If the phone calls you are getting are getting your answering machine, that is why they dont state exact issues and just leave a vague message, they cannot leave that information on your machine by law.
I would not recommend not answering or calling back, that won't make the problem go away. I would suggest you request verification of the debt from them within the first 30 days they contacted you, hopefully it is not to late. By law if you request this withing the forst 30 days from when they have contacted you, they must provide it within 30 days. This would be something that verifies, or proves the debt. If you don't dispute or request this verification within the first 30 days of being contacted, that is as if you acknowledge the debt and do not dispute it and they can continue to pursue you for the debt as far as they would like, including throught the court system.
Since you said you are sure you don't have debts and never had them, they will not be able to provide verification and then if they continue to contact you, they are breaking the law and you have some recourse. If they can validate the debt, you will have to prove the debt is not yours. Let me know what they send you for proof and if you need more help, email me again.
Related Articles
- Debt Collection Laws - How to Get a Debt Collector or Collection Agency to Stop Calling You
- Stop Debt Collection Calls - How To Stop Debt Collectors From Calling
- Time-Barred Debts - Debts With Expired Statute of Limitations
- What to Do When a Debt Collector Calls
- Collections Law - Federal Law Restricts What a Debt Collector Can Do to Collect Money You Owe
Answers by Expert:
Michelle Dunn
Expertise
As one of the Top 5 Women in Collections, one of the Top 50 Collection Professionals, and winner of the Business Excellence award, I can answer any questions about debt, debt collection, improving business credit, creating a credit policy, enforcing a credit policy and collecting on past due accounts. I can also answer questions in regards to starting a debt collection agency since I have been a bill collector for over 24 years, started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years, and maintain my 12 year old Credit & Collections Association for members of the credit & debt collection industry. I am also the author of the popular and award winning book "Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money" now on it's 3rd edition. This book has won a the Writers Digest self published award as well as the New York Book Festival Award. I am a repeat contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and have been featured on NPR, CNN, as well as many other national radio and television programs. I have also been featured in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Smart Money, MSNBC and much more. I have 17 published books to my name and am an accomplished speaker and consultant. I currently write 9 columns for newspapers, magazines and online portals worldwide.
Experience
I have over 24 years experience in debt collection, I started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years and I am the founder & owner of my Credit & Collections Association that I founded in 1998. www.credit-and-collections.com
Organizations
My Credit & Collections Association, I was also a member of the American Collectors Association and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. I am a member of many writing groups as well as my local Women Inspiring Women chapter. I am a member of Know More Media as an expert for their blog on business credit.
Publications
Business NH Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, MSNBC, CNN, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Home Business Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and website, many books, newspapers and television programs as well.
Education/Credentials
I have written 17 books in my collecting money series and one for Entrepreneur Press called the Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook. My newest book is being published by John Wiley & Sons in May titled, The Guide to Getting Paid, how to weed out bad paying customers, collect on past due balances and avoid bad debt. This book is also being sold to many colleges as a text book.
Awards and Honors
My book Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money won an award from Writers Digest and the 2007 New York Book Festival in the "How to" category. I have won 2 awards from Dun & Bradstreet and Governor Jean Shaheen. I was nominated as one of the Top 5 Women in Collections twice as well as having been selected as one of Collection Advisor's Top 50 Collection Professionals by my peers.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.