LHR Collections Ripoff, illegal, threatening to ruin my credit for paid debt Hamburg New York
I paid a debt to Suncom in full last year and now LHR is telling me I still owe over several hundred dollars and that, fair or not, I have to pay because I don't have a letter stating the debt was paid in full. They're threatening to put it on my credit report and I don't know what to do. I have to search for any proof I may have, but I know I didn't receive a letter.
I don't know what to do. How can they force me to pay something I've already resolved? I don't want my credit ruined, but I don't want to just hand money to a bunch of bullies. I'm waiting for some type of proof from them.
A.C.
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Tony
Bakersfield,California,
U.S.A.
Nice response, Sherri:
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, March 01, 2006
You are right, of course. What people have to do with collection agencies is "fire" them. You have never done business with them and don't intend to, so you can actually tell them to back off and they have to do that. Here is a draft copy of a letter that should work:
COLLECTION AGENCY NAME
ADDRESS
Attention: NAME (Debt Collector)
RE: Correspondence received dated
Your Client:
Acct #:
Amount $
Your Acct #:
This will serve as my written legal acknowledgment regarding the allegation made in the above referenced letter. You are hereby notified, pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 USC 1692c 805, that you and your organization will cease and desist all attempts to collect this debt.
Both the validity and accuracy of this claim are fraudulent and in legal dispute.
Failure to comply with this Federal law will result in my immediately filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and this State's Attorney General's Office, and any future attempts (after your receipt of this correspondence) to collect this illegitimate claim will be documented and will result in my legal counsel pursuing all criminal and civil claims against you and your organization.
Furthermore, any adverse information placed on my personal credit bureau report(s) by your agency associated with this unlawful allegation will result in my filing suit against you and your company personally and corporately in seeking all legal damages available under both State and Federal collection statutes.
My intentions are to rectify this prejudicial reporting with the original creditor involved.
Tony
Bakersfield,California,
U.S.A.
Nice response, Sherri:
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, March 01, 2006
You are right, of course. What people have to do with collection agencies is "fire" them. You have never done business with them and don't intend to, so you can actually tell them to back off and they have to do that. Here is a draft copy of a letter that should work:
COLLECTION AGENCY NAME
ADDRESS
Attention: NAME (Debt Collector)
RE: Correspondence received dated
Your Client:
Acct #:
Amount $
Your Acct #:
This will serve as my written legal acknowledgment regarding the allegation made in the above referenced letter. You are hereby notified, pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 USC 1692c 805, that you and your organization will cease and desist all attempts to collect this debt.
Both the validity and accuracy of this claim are fraudulent and in legal dispute.
Failure to comply with this Federal law will result in my immediately filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and this State's Attorney General's Office, and any future attempts (after your receipt of this correspondence) to collect this illegitimate claim will be documented and will result in my legal counsel pursuing all criminal and civil claims against you and your organization.
Furthermore, any adverse information placed on my personal credit bureau report(s) by your agency associated with this unlawful allegation will result in my filing suit against you and your company personally and corporately in seeking all legal damages available under both State and Federal collection statutes.
My intentions are to rectify this prejudicial reporting with the original creditor involved.
Tony
Bakersfield,California,
U.S.A.
Nice response, Sherri:
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, March 01, 2006
You are right, of course. What people have to do with collection agencies is "fire" them. You have never done business with them and don't intend to, so you can actually tell them to back off and they have to do that. Here is a draft copy of a letter that should work:
COLLECTION AGENCY NAME
ADDRESS
Attention: NAME (Debt Collector)
RE: Correspondence received dated
Your Client:
Acct #:
Amount $
Your Acct #:
This will serve as my written legal acknowledgment regarding the allegation made in the above referenced letter. You are hereby notified, pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 USC 1692c 805, that you and your organization will cease and desist all attempts to collect this debt.
Both the validity and accuracy of this claim are fraudulent and in legal dispute.
Failure to comply with this Federal law will result in my immediately filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and this State's Attorney General's Office, and any future attempts (after your receipt of this correspondence) to collect this illegitimate claim will be documented and will result in my legal counsel pursuing all criminal and civil claims against you and your organization.
Furthermore, any adverse information placed on my personal credit bureau report(s) by your agency associated with this unlawful allegation will result in my filing suit against you and your company personally and corporately in seeking all legal damages available under both State and Federal collection statutes.
My intentions are to rectify this prejudicial reporting with the original creditor involved.
Sherri
Piedmont,California,
U.S.A.
MAKE THEM VALIDATE..
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 28, 2006
First of all, as a third party "collection agency"/junk debt buyer, the burden of proof is on THEM to prove that you actually owe this money. A printout from their database does not constitute validation. DEMAND something from them showing (a) They were contracted by the original creditor to collect this "debt", (b)Something in writing with your signature showing that you agreed to pay this, and (c)Something in writing showing how they calculated the amount they say you owe.
Also, in the same letter, tell them that they are to cease contact with you at home and at your place of employment, as well as leaving messages with third parties, as it is not for the purposes of "locator information". State that you are disputing this debt and that if any tradeline is reported to the credit reporting agencies, it MUST be reported as "disputed" per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Tell them that if there is still an issue with the original creditor, you will deal directly with them, as you do not deal with debt scavengers or third party collection agencies.
NEVER, EVER deal with a debt scavenger...never give them any personal information. They will "sell" your information over and over again. Once these vultures see that you can be intimidated, they will keep coming back for more.