Expert: Apex Credit Services, LLC - 5/8/2008

Question
This company reported me to all three credit reporting agencies before notifying me in writing of the debt. I spoke to them today they only had the street address not the Apt. number. They also asked me for my SSN. Can they report me before notifying me in writing? There are complaints about Williams and Fudge all over the place.

Answer
Sherri:

   Unfortunately, yes, they can.  However, since your reports was the first notice you received, you have 30 days from that date to send the debt collector a timely request for validation.  This will legally stop them from taking any further collection activity until they validate the debt.  

  As such, dispute the tradeline through the credit reporting agencies and send the debt collector a request for validation at the same time.  They will not be able to verify the account tradeline without first validating it.  Hard to do.  If they do verify it and do not validate it or validate it first, it will be a FDCPA violation.  If they fail to note it as being in dispute, it will be both a FDCPA and FCRA violation.

  My bet is that it will be deleted.

                Apex Credit Services, LLC
                http://www.apexcreditservices.com
                1-888-727-4818