Debt Collection Agencies - Rules and Facts.

There are important facts you need to know before you contact; or are contacted by, debt collection agencies. Review collection agency rules.

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Free Debt Advice and FAQs:

Missed a credit card payment? You should contact your credit card company immediately, either to pay by phone or to arrange a late payment. Don't be too intimidated to attempt negotiating any late payment fees charged by the issuer. If you have a long, good-standing with the issuer, you may be able to motivate them to wait longer before reporting the late payment to credit bureaus.

When is it wise to pay a credit card with another credit card? When you have a payment due on a credit card which has a significantly larger interest rate; and or late fee, then it could make sense to temporarily use one credit card to pay another. Another wise occasion would be to completely transfer high interest credit cards to a low; or 0 introductory, balance transfer credit card.

How to collect a debt from a private party: If someone owes you money, in order to recover the funds in court you'll need to prove two things: 1) That you gave the other party (borrower) money and; 2) The money was a loan and not a gift. Unfortunately many people never took the time to write out a personal loan repayment agreement, and have no proof of the loan. But you can still get proof, either directly by asking the borrower to sign an IOU an acknowledge the loan, or indirectly through other means such as text messages and emails. If you doubt the person will sign a promissory note, then try the indirect approach first. Send the person and email stating how you were glad you were able to lend ($specify amount), and you would like to setup a repayment plan. Keep a copy of your email, and the response from the other party. By getting the other party to return a reply such as: "Thanks for the loan...", then you are able to prove it was a loan and not a gift. You can then sue the person in court if he/she fails to repay.

Is a spouse liable for credit card debt? Just as income obtained during marriage is considered joint assets, so are debts. Regardless of any deals made between you and your ex spouse; or soon to be ex, those deals do not override the liability agreement you made with the creditor. Even if a judge decrees that your ex spouse is responsible for debt, the creditor may still pursue you for payment should your spouse default. Of course, you then have a legal right to sue your ex spouse in court to repay you for any expenses you had to pay on his/her behalf in order to protect your credit.

What is the best way to get rid of credit card debt? The absolute best way to get out of credit card debt depends on whether you aim to payoff or charge-off the debt... or defaulting on credit card debt. It would be better; of course, to erase credit card debt legally versus defaulting, such as getting a loan to payoff credit cards by leveraging the equity in your home. The total loan interest charges would be far less than that charged by the credit card company.

Is credit card debt forgiveness taxable? Is credit card debt tax deductable? Again, yes. Here are the situations: If you owed credit card debt which was forgiven either in part or in full, the portion which you did not pay is taxable. In the other situation, charges placed on your credit card; such as mortgage payments and medical expenses, may be tax deductible. The credit card interest charged; however, is not.

Federal grants for credit card debt: Fact - There is no government credit card debt relief for individuals. The only government help with credit card debt comes in the form of indirect assistance. For example, you could get government support to help with your rent, and subsequently that could help free money in your budget to payoff credit cards.

Questions to ask a credit counseling service:
• What services do you offer?
• What are your fees? Do I have to pay anything before you can help me? Are there monthly or ongoing fees?
• Will I have a formal written agreement or contract?
• Who regulates, oversees or licenses your agency?
• What are the qualifications of your counselors? Are they accredited or certified? If not, how are they trained?
• How does your debt repayment plan work?
• How do you determine the amount of my payment? What happens if this is more than I can afford?
• Is a debt repayment plan my only option?
• How often can I get status reports on my accounts?
• What if I can't maintain the agreed-upon plan?
• Can you get my creditors to lower or eliminate interest and finance charges or waive late fees?

Signs You Are Headed Toward Debt:
* You are using credit more often, or you are relying on credit to help make ends meet.
• You are frequently reaching the maximum credit limit on your credit card.
• You are borrowing money to pay bills.
• You are frequently late paying bills.
• You have to choose which bills to pay and which to set aside until later.
• You often pay only the minimum amount due.
• Your standard of living has remained the same while your check book and savings balances have gone down and credit balances have gone up.
• You are being contacted by creditors (or collection agencies).
• You defaulted on paying some bills.

Ways to Avoid Credit Card Debt:
* Pay cash instead of using your credit card.
• If you must use your credit card, set a monthly limit on charging that is based upon your budget, and keep a written record.
• Limit the number of credit cards you have.
• Choose the card with the lowest interest rate and no (or very low) annual fee.
• Beware of blank checks for cash advances, because they might carry very high interest rates.
• Don't apply for credit cards just to get a free gift or a discount on a purchase, as it may lead to over-charging.
• Pay bills on time to avoid late fees or charges.

Common Debt Help Topics:

I need help paying off my credit card. Is there legal help for credit card debt? Yes, but you don't necessarily need a debt lawyer. Fact is, based upon your abilities and negotiation skills, you may be able to resolve the debt just between you and the card company. You could either negotiate new repayment terms and a reduction in interest, or agree to a debt settlement at a percentage of what's owed, or you could borrow money to pay off credit card balances in full. Whichever option you choose, proceed with knowledge. If you feel uncomfortable doing a negotiation one-on-one with your credit card company, you could allow a professional company to assist you. Consider the debt relief company listed on our site.

My bills are more than my income - What to do when you can't pay your bills: The first thing to do is to immediately contact your creditors and let them know about your situation and give them the opportunity to work out a pay-back solution with you. Next, stop adding more debt to your household budget, and trim away unnecessary expenses. You probably have enough income to pay your necessity bills, once you eliminate wasteful spending. If you don't think so, it may be because you are not keeping a log of all your expenses. You should write down every purchase, for every dime spent. Only then can you identify where you are wasting money which could be used to payoff debts.

Low interest and free financial help with bills - rent and utility bill assistance programs: When the economy is bad, more people flock to the internet searching for free money to pay bills. Many are hoping for government grants for debt consolidation, but such does not exist for individuals. There are; nonetheless, free government assistance programs which can help you make ends meet, such as housing subsidies (Section 8) and grocery funding (food stamps). By utilizing these resources, you can free-up money to cover other expenses. And don't forget resources such as local charities and organizations like Goodwill. Some private organizations offer low interest loans and/or free money you never have to pay back. Some organizations offer reduced or free daycare to working single parents with low income. As for utility bills, contact your electric company and ask about any program they offer to elderly, disabled or low income people.

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About Debt Collection Agencies & Government Rules

Before you talk to a debt collection agency, first review these facts:

* Debt collectors have heard every sob story, and they will likely believe you are a liar anyway. Although they may seem sympathetic, they note your excuses as 'HLS' (Hard Luck Story). You're simply wasting their time, and to them time is money, so they will keep pushing for payment no matter what you say. They'll make suggestions such as borrowing money from friends and family, withdrawing from your 401k, or even paying off the debt with a credit card (or a different credit card if the collector is calling to recover a credit card payment).

* Debt collectors do not share your opinion you have about them. They feel they are; and may very well be, a vital part of the economy. Collection agencies do in fact help companies collect accounts that may otherwise end up 100% defaulted, thus they help to level the economy.

* Debt collectors earn a bonus based upon how much money the collect. Successful debt collectors earn bonus revenue of $10,000 or more - a month! That's why your collector is so aggressive. If you are unable to reach a settlement agreement with the collector you're talking to, hang up and call back later and hope for a different collector who is more willing (or desperate to earn a bonus) to reach a settlement agreement beneficial to you.

* Debt collectors can agree to a settlement arrangement in virtually any percentage. Most debt collectors are authorized; before they even call you, to accept a settlement offer. Typically; without much negotiating hassle, you can get a preapproved reduction of 15 to 35 percent on credit card debt, and up to 50% on other debts. With additional negotiating, you may be able to get higher savings. Just make sure you and the collector are talking about a "payoff settlement" and not a "payment agreement" which would require the balance to be paid later. The reason why you can negotiate a lower payoff, is because a lot of agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar. So start off by offering 25 cents on the dollar, such as "I have $300, will you accept that as payment in full?" If you reach a settlement agreement, some collectors may claim to be trained to take your application. But they already know your information, right? So why are they asking for your cell phone, your spouses cell phone number, your work number? It's a way to get the information they need to find you in case the settlement falls through. So before you give additional personal information or send your check, first get them to confirm; in writing, the settlement amount and that the settlement payment will payoff the debt in full.

* Most 'debt collection managers' are merely debt collectors themselves. Sometimes during the negotiation process, your debt collector may say he/she needs to get a manager involved (which is actually simply another debt collector). The other debt collector will pretend to be more harsher, so you'll end up feeling grateful for the offer the first collector quoted you. And subconsciously you'll feel like you are outnumbered and more ready to give in. And don't even bother to ask for a manager. You're better off just calling back and getting a different collector on the line to negotiate with.

* Debt collectors will try to recoup debts which are beyond the statute of limitations. So first make sure the debt is still 'live'. If the debt is beyond the statute of limitations, debt collectors cannot sue you nor put it in your credit report. However, if you make any kind of payment; or even acknowledge the debt, that usually reactivates the account.

* Debt collectors will call you at work in hopes of embarrassing you to pay up. To get them to stop calling you at work, specifically ask them not to and by law they have to stop.

* Many debt collectors use automated phone dialing/messaging which is just a recording of a fake person. When you call back and ask for that person, the agency may say he's out to lunch and offer to help you instead.

* Debt collectors are forbidden by law to threaten to have you arrested, to use profanity, or to call before 8 am or after 9 pm. If a debt collector violates these regulations, report the matter to your state attorney general's office www.naag.org and the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov - Those are violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Debt Collection Agency Secret Strategies to Contact You and make You Pay:

Using data mining companies to find as much contact information about you as they can, like your email address, phone, physical address and place of employment.
Contacting your family and neighbors at your old address as well as your new address.
Searching social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and other networking communities. Your profile or blog may tell a debt collector where you work, who your friends and colleagues are, the names of your spouse and children and so forth.
Pretending that they're an old friend looking to reconnect with you. Using information they've found from any of the above sources, they’ll call an unsuspecting employer, friend, neighbor, or family member. The person on the other end of the phone feels like they’re helping two old friends get back together and gives them your cell phone number, work number or home number, new address, and/or email address.
Reviewing your credit report: Collectors often have enough information about you to know your current financial status. Be aware that if you're in a negotiation with a creditor, they're going to have a lot of information on you. Be aware that if you have a car payment and that's up to date or credit cards that are open and up to date, a collector is going to see that and say, 'Why aren't you paying the bill I'm trying to collect?"

Things not to say to a debt collector:

Do not readily admit to the debt. First, check to see if the debt has expired; or is about to exceed your state statute of limitations for debt. If; for example, your state's statute of limitation is 5 years and the debt is 6 years old, the collector cannot pursue you unless you 're-activate' the debt by admitting to it. Also, if the debt is soon to reach your state's statute of limitation, admitting to the debt will start the clock over. Thus is the limitation is 5 years for your state, and the debt is 4 years and 10 months old, by admitting to the debt you'll start the clock all over and the collection agency will have yet another five years to collect from you.
Do not acknowledge the debt even if you know it is yours and even if you have the money to pay. First, make the collector prove you owe the debt. If the collector does not have copies of the agreement you had with the creditor and cannot prove you owe the debt, they cannot sue you for payment. If they cannot produce the documents, tell them to discontinue pressing you for payment of something you do not owe.
Don't let the collector know you are concerned about your credit score, or that you want to make sure you can get approved for a loan or credit card. A debt collector can prey upon your weaknesses. When negotiating a settlement agreement, you don't want the collector to have an advantage, nor an impression that he/she won't have a difficult time getting you to pay. You want collectors to think you really don't care and; basically, you'll give them a little money to completely settle the debt just to be done with it. Otherwise if they won't deal, you'll just ignore their calls.
Don't give a collector your credit card number nor send a post-dated check. Even if you desire to pay the debt, giving a collector open access to charge any amount to your credit card could turn out badly. As for a post-dated check, there's no requirement for a bank to not cash it until the posted date. You should send your check payment expecting the collector to cash it right away. In the memo line, place a note to the effect: "Debt Payoff In Full" along with the account number created by the creditor. As mentioned in our other article, don't send your payment until you receive the settlement agreement in writing and it meets all your expectations.

Debt collector offering settlement: Since the best time for you to conduct settlement negotiations with a collection agency is at the end of the month, if the collector is offering a fair settlement at that time it's likely because he/she is desperate to earn a collection bonus. Collectors prepare for you to reject their first offer, so they don't offer as high a discount. You're very likely to get a better deal if you haggle and turn the pressure on the collector instead of letting the collector pressure you. You can pressure the collector to accept your offer by letting them know you owe other debts which you may settle soon as they are offering you a good deal, so you'd rather settle with them first and maybe later re-negotiate.

Debt collector script - Per federal law, debt collectors are required to state their name, the name of the collection agency they are working for, and the creditor they are representing. Typically the phone call will start like this: "Hello, [Skip Debtorman]? Hi, my name is [Bill Collectorguy], and I'm calling from [Debt Collection Agency], on behalf of [Creditor you owe] regarding the [$##### debt owed]. First off, I need to let you know this call may be be recorded for quality assurance and this is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used strictly for that purpose."

Debt collector calling wrong number? To get in touch with you; in addition to any cosigners you may have had, debt collectors will call your friends. Debt collector calling relatives, too? A debt collector harassing family is one of their tactics, not only to contact you but to also pressure you to pay up. Collectors will contact family members and people whom they suspect may be family members, typically based upon last name. They know it's not likely that you'll be reachable at those phone numbers, but they will call in hopes the answering party will voluntarily give them your contact information, perhaps so they will contact you and stop calling and harassing them. In other words, they are hoping those people will turn on you just so they will no longer get disturbed by collectors seeking you. And perhaps you'll be so embarassed by the calls that you'll pay up.

Debt collector automated calls (robocalls): The federal; and state, Do Not Call Lists also applies to collection agency robocalls. Since many of these automated calls do not provide an opt-out option, you can nonetheless report unsolicited phone calls and the company may be fined. You can match debt collector phone numbers seen on your caller ID to our directory listing of collection agencies (below).

Debt collector associations - Below is a directory of debt collection agency phone numbers:

Absolute Resolutions Corp 800-713-0670
Applied Income Sciences, LLC 415-373-6981
Arches Financial, LLC 801-466-2130
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. 586-446-7826
Capio Partners, LLC 678-682-3680
Collins Financial Services, Inc. 800-570-5007
Contact Solutions Group , LLC 732-214-2663
Crown Asset Management, LLC 770-817-6700
Debt Trade Partners, LLC 888-828-9957
Fourscore Resource Capital, LLC 952-253-6300
Genesis Financial Solutions 503-268-5815
Global Debt Network, Inc. 866-559-4339
Hudson & Keyse, LLC 800-654-1660
International Credit Services, LLC 707-255-9800
National Capital Management 888-707-4099
NCSCorp 800-426-8648
NorAm Capital Holdings, Inc. 888-886-6726
Nu Sun Financial Services, LLC 908-756-9988
Oliphant Financial, LLC 888-632-5111
PEC LLC 212-461-0856
Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC 757-961-3533
PPC Distributors, LLC 714-227-0617
Professional Recovery Systems, LLC 800-308-5101
The Judgment Group 410-643-3310
West Asset Management 770-618-2206
13 One, LLC 901-758-5766
A P SOLUTIONS 716-725-0290
A. A. Action Collection Co. 973-740-0044
A.G.Lacy 443-686-6069
Accounts Recovery Corporation 888-254-1998
Accounts Retrievable System 516-783-6566
AccuSearch Information Systems, Inc. 519-686-0015
Acquisition Management, Inc. 478-471-6484
Action Capital Investments, Inc. 805-584-1000
Action Financial 602-493-8630
ADVANCED CALIFORNIA COLLECTIONS INC. 800-880-6020
Affiliated Collection Services, LLC 573-234-2613
Afni, Inc. 800-767-2364
Aktiv Kapital Canada Ltd. 519.432.0075 ext 2355
Alec Burlington Credit Management 31-348436565
All Debt Traders, LLC 866-238-2160
All Seasons Professionals Inc 443-616-7587
AMERICAN DEBT ANALYTICS 952-905-3306
Apex Capital Holdings, Ltd 702-979-4447
Archstate Financial 866-276-2724
Ariel Financial services 972-242-1767
Arrow Financial Services LLC 636-281-3338
ASA FINANCIAL LLC 609-858-2826
Asset Acquisition Group 303-694-0031
Asset Acquisition Group LLC 303-694-0031
Asset Maximization Group, Inc. 800-280-9770
Asset Recovery & Management Group, LLC 781-433-0222
Asset Recovery Solutions LLC 876-383-3745
Associated Receivables, Inc 706-868-5566
ASTA FUNDING INC. 516-431-5338
B & O Global Ltd (44) 7743813784
BAL Financial LLC 617-595-5794
BARRY R. GOLDMAN 866-648-6537
BAY Collection Services 740-417-4118
Bayview Financial Solutions 727-823-4500
Beltway Capital Management 615-883-1792
Big Sky Research Bureau, Inc. 208-936-4701
Big Ten Capital Management 612-331-6544
Boulder Credit Services 248-434-5114
Boulder Credit Services Inc. 877-972-9669
Bowsprit Financial Corp. 847-410-2726
Bradford Collins, LLC 678-468-8370
Burgeon Financial LLC 803-361-8821
Calloway Holdings 281-914-8636
Canyon West Financial, LLC 800-717-6009
Capital Adjustment Services, Inc. 952-930-0200
Capital Alliance Financial LLC 616-940-1190
Capital Assistance Group 617-965-2000
Capital Finance 760-776-5749
Capital Financial Group, Inc. 770-232-9016
Capsheaf Investments LLC 303-444-4002
Capstone Financial, LLC. 847-780-4742
Care Principium 91204031517
Carousel & Associates, LLC 716-909-4386
Cash Stream Recovery, LLC 407-478-4900
Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC 602-667-0128
Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC 914-347-3440
Cedarcrest Capital LLC 917-535-0331
Central Ohio Credit Corp 888-737-2622
Charge-Off Clearinghouse 512-502-0300
CIR, Law Offices 800-496-8909
Clost & Associates LLC. 716-835-2226
CNE & Associates LLC 716-471-1964
CNH Capital 262-636-5565
Collect America, Ltd. 303-713-2008
Collection House 2.54204E+11
Collections Group LLC 405-308-7402
Cosmos Financial, LLC 505-898-7223
Courtcases USA Inc. 404-795-1694
Covenant Management Group, LLC 770-287-1131
Creative Financial Solutions 269-353-9238
Credigy 678-684-5076
CREDIT BUREAU OF NORTH AMERICA (CBNA) 615-446-7128
Credit Card Reseller, LLC 952-679-4387
Credit Corp Group 617-417-9489
Credit Corp Group Limited 612-934-7360
CreditMax LLC 561-352-2220
Creditor's Rights, Incorporated 216-832-4154
Creditors Service Company of Michigan Inc 248-486-4245
Crescent Recovery, LLC 866-807-2010
CR-ONE Solutions 716-823-0091
CSG Acquisitions, Inc. 201-592-0724
CSG Acquistions, Inc. 201-797-8200
CSI Financial Services 858-200-9201
Cummings, Mlcorey, Davis & Acho 734-261-2400
Cypress Financial Recoveries, L.L.C. 201-385-7900
Dahlink Financial Corporation 302-593-4340
DCL 409-892-4334
Debt & Collection Eliminators 407-760-0890
Debt Buyers Management 661-303-5081
Debt Management Partners 716-909-4773
Debt Management, Inc. 508-553-1904
Debtsellers.us 561-317-7020
Deburygroup L.L.C. 207-999-9999
Dodge Enterprises, Inc. 904-509-1383
Dominion Credit Services 678-461-5550
DTC Global, Inc. 917-273-9222
Dumont Capital 214-965-5000
Dunstone Financial, LLC 602-275-1616
Eagle Group, LLC 724-657-1889
Ecklipse Technologies 347-661-4876
Elite Collateral Recovery, Inc 800-625-7376
Elite Recovery Services Inc. 716-270-2200
Empire Legal Recovery Services 877-376-0937
EnCircle Collections 305-592-7800
encircle inc 800-957-6600
Encore Capital Group 858-560-2600
Encore Capital Group, Inc 858-309-6019
Erin Capital Management 212-660-3146
ESM Enterprises 850-471-5081
Excelsior Funding Group, Inc. 770-963-4582
Fairfax Financial 770-912-3670
Fairway Financial Solutions LLC 972-869-7659
Faith Investment Group 404-641-2716
Falcon Collections Inc. 832-300-6007
Financial Debt Recovery Limited 800-763-3328
First American Portfolio Company, LLC 513-317-9328
First Amherst Financial of Colorado, LLC 303-331-8072
First Coast Receivables, LLC. 904-514-9494
First Commercial Credit Corp. 914-288-8668
First Financial Asset Management, Inc. (FFAM) 404-523-9901
FIRST GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LLC 404-762-0006
Fly Financial Services, LLC 866-433-1518
Fourscore Resource Capital, LLC 952-253-6300
Fredrickson International Limited +44 1932 333000
Freedom Financial Services 281-829-1192
G L Recovery Group, LLC. 562-697-7237
Gault Financial, LLC 865-862-1120
Genas Management 404-604-4907
GFS, Incorporated 573-875-7966
Glass Mountain Capital LLC 800-583-0905
Glengarry Capital, LLC 314-994-1331
Global Acceptance Credit Corporation 817-288-0266
GLOBAL RECOVERY SERVICES 770-491-9993
Gold Line Credit Services, Inc. 530-661-4350
Government Portfolio LLC 301-718-9742
Great Lakes Asset Management, Inc. 888-447-9610
Greens Financial LLC 402-291-8900
Grimley Financial Corp 856-672-1014
GT Services, Inc. 949-788-2990
Guaranty Financial, LLC 717-757-0067
H. Joshua Chaet 847-436-0008
H.A.P. Group Consulting L.L.C. 501-960-5395
Hall Burg & Associates 763-367-6200
Hamilton General Financial Corp. 317-773-3583
Harper & White Inc. 201-445-0570
Harris & Harris, Ltd. 312-423-7436
Harvest Credit Management, LLC 303-531-0631
Heartland Credit Management 913-451-5898
Henderson Goldberg & Clarke Inc 619-572-2997
High Mountain Funding Inc 973-423-1842
Hilco Receivables, LLC 817-885-8011
Hirshberg Acceptance Corp 734-261-2616
HMCC Inc 773-592-8167
HSW Financial Recovery, LLC 713-590-4172
Hudson & Keyse, L.L.C. 800-654-5391
Imextrade +48 326780017
Imperial Recovery Services 562-944-4522
Insource Financial Services LLC 631-424-1122
Instat Investments Inc. 800-466-2854
Integrated Account Systems 706-356-4299
Intergraded Financial Resources, LLC (IFR) 586-431-0100
international recovery associates 404-559-1220
Investment Capital Recovery LLC 480-282-8422
INVESTOR SERVICES INC. 714-625-6573
Island Trading International, Inc. 917-440-6934
J and K Investments 619-517-3611
J. P. Trust Company 914-712-3557
Jack Wolf PA 863-644-3747
Jacobs, Marsh LLC 716-568-8468
Jormandy, L.L.C. 757-747-6200
JR COLLECTION AGENCY 810-248-0313
Judgment Enforcers 404-934-5146
KND RECOVERY SERVICES 770-682-8006
Kramer Credit Services, LLC 401-438-9000
LA Debt, Inc. 678-595-9215
Law Offices of Andrew Becker PLC 757-340-7600
Leader Asset Management, LLC 404-417-5174
Legal Enforcement Service 410-585-0091
Lindquist & Trudeau, Inc. 800-996-9556
Lion Capital Group 866-300-2566
Litigation Enforcement Group 443-485-9527
Llewellyn Capital 46704163977
Luna Stelle Collections, II, LLC 518-489-0530
Mader Acceptance Group, LLC. 973-948-4575
Mako Financial Services, Inc. 954-922-3999
Marshall, Greene & Associates Inc. 866-702-7807
Mattia & associates 619-312-0539
Maximun Result 862-368-3625
Merchant Management, Inc. 615-309-4992
merchant solution recovery 678-665-9727
Merchants Credit Recourse 248-565-2093
MERCHANTS RETAIL CREDIT ASSOCIATION 800-441-9652
Messerli & Kramer P.A. 763-548-7926
Michael Todd & Associates, Inc. 502-329-0219
Mid America Credit Management 866-560-2221
Midwest Asset Control 402-933-0015
MJ Recovery 800-774-9198
Moonbeam Investment Corporation 312-263-2022
Morgan Macklin L.L.C. 888-212-0114
Mortgage First, LLC 801-660-4635
MRCA 800-441-9652
MV FINANCIAL CREDIT INC 312-850-2833
National Account Adjusters 913-636-4461
National Credit Acceptance, Inc 916-830-0501
National Credit Solutions 800-384-0585
National Judgement Recovery 603-357-2922
National Note Buyers, Inc. 607-754-1521
Nationwide Capital Group, Inc 949-481-8240
Nationwide Discover & Recover, LLC 718-874-8171
New Century Financial Services, Inc. 973-753-9415
NEW GEM AGENCY 973-941-1105
nobel recovery services llc 714-225-8096
OCO FINANCIAL 419-366-4202
Odyssey management Group 248-865-8181
Old Canal Financial 714-921-2727
OREGON ACCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC. 503-231-3996
Ousley Financial Group, LLC 888-743-6340
Outsource Recovery Management, Inc. 800-241-8424
Outsourcing Solutions Inc. (OSI) 678-474-4022
Oxford Funding, LLC 508-987-6232
Ozark Capital Corporation 501-370-9900
P & B Acquisitions LLC 716-891-5826
Park Finance 469-484-5802
Partners Financial Services 636-207-9100
PCA Acquisitions 973-827-7121
Peak Credit Services, LLC 877-586-1477
Performance Capital Management LLC 714-736-3790
Pierce Enterprises 501-815-4155
Pierce, Andrews, & Young Inc. 603-244-2463
Pinnacle Asset Group, L.L.C. 716-675-1441
Plaza Associates 212-330-9622
Portfolio Funding Services 800-533-5783
Portfolio Group Investors, LLC 847-304-9401
Portfolio Management 614-522-0489
Portfolio Management Canada Inc. 519-432-0075
Praxis Financial Solutions, Inc. 847-676-1111
Premier Partners 713-706-6327
Prestige Alliance, LLC 817-885-8011
Pride Financial 609-954-0724
Prime Asset Management 716-909-2426
Primer Line Services LLC 703-348-3426
PrimeTex Services 832-338-0198
Professional Placement Services, LLC(PPS) 414-220-4100
PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS 507-345-3453
Profits 4 Investors, LLC 623-565-0885
PUN Collections, LLC 410-602-8480
QUALITY CREDIT INC. 845-352-1700
Questus Enterprises, LLC 317-698-8023
R & R Financial Services, Inc. 904-207-8433
Rausch, Sturm, Israel & Hornik, S.C. 414-328-1400
ReCLAIM, Inc. 910-793-8391
Recoveries Management Pte. Ltd. +65 96188383
Reliance Debt Relief 386-585-3226
Resurgence Financial, LLC 847-581-2700
Resurgence Financial, LLC 847-656-2194
Resurgent Capital Services 864-248-8700
Revco Capital 877-226-6701
Risk Management Alternatives, Inc. 770-925-5000
River Capital Partners, LLC 203-661-3077
RIVERWALK HOLDINGS, LTD 817-251-7000
RLK & Associates 503-731-8021
ROMADOR Enterprises, LLC 716-903-2420
Rosenthal, Morgan And Thomas, Inc. 314-786-0070
Ross Klein Capital Management 248-851-5009
Routhmeir Sterling, Inc. 319-362-1188
Runci Group 401-619-1360
Samson Financial, LLC 205-969-1606
Security Credit Services, LLC 662-513-5429
Select Portfolio Servicing 801-293-2686
Sempelton OÜ 37253400222
Seplovich Consulting 650-244-9999
SIMON CHASE & ASSOCIATES, LLC 678-291-9906
SM Financial Services Corporation 908-996-3716
SMS Financial, LLC 602-944-0624
Soloman Group Inc 650-235-5337
Solstice Recovery Group 770-924-5792
Sonatrac Financial LLC 800-994-3239
SOUND CREDIT SERVICES, INC 425-339-0855
South Lake Financial Services 732-363-1226
Southern Recovery Systems LLC 305-667-9043
Sparksportfolioconnections 580-532-4253
Starcast Group 817-284-8165
Sterling Finance & Credit Services, Inc. 713-783-1675
Sterling Recoveries 212-563-9884
stm Asset Management 678-368-9856
SunLAN Corporation 714-289-9413
SunLAN Corporation 714-289-9413
Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. 800-208-8565
Sussex Group, Inc. 888-708-7108
Sycamore Financial Services LLC 732-263-9700
T.Goolsby & Associates 602-299-6116
TDC 256-749-7225
Tekbuzz Marketing Limited 919-428-6012
The Bureaus, Inc 847-328-4300
The Collection Bureau 303-451-7282
THE HANOVER GROUP LLC 818-501-9276
The Landberg Group, Inc. 952-891-5751
The Lineage Group, Inc. 716-821-5550
The Maiden Company, LLC 509-529-8700
The Outsource Group 573-874-1182
The Rock Financial, Inc. 866-712-6990
The Sagres Company 858-334-4454
Thornton Financial Services, Inc. 443-512-0832
TNT Debt Recovery Services 714-447-4680
Total A$ets Recovery, Connection 817-842-9067
Travelers Acceptance Corporation 1-800-667-6640
Trifi L.L.C 877-268-9286
TSF Financial Services, Inc. 303-320-8359
Turnkey Asset Recovery Solutions 419-973-5205
U.S. Equities 203-966-8555
Unifund 513-489-8877
United Bureau 508-669-3133
UNITED RECEIVABLES LLC. 866-898-6674
United Recovery, Inc. 818-676-1407
United Resource Systems, Inc. 303-205-0152
Vanderbilt Group, LLC 860-402-9959
VITAL Serivces Inc 402-465-5664
VMC Investments, LLC 215-783-3254
WCS Collection Services, Inc. 866-470-9700
Web Capital, L.P. 267-514-9642
WIN-WIN RECOVERY SERVICES 619-518-5560
Workout Solutions 857-233-2487
WorldNet Recovery Systems 866-977-5250
Worldwide Asset Management 770-618-3736
Worldwide Collection Services 949-338-2688
Wright, Scott & Associates, LLC 410-581-0202
ZBS&ASSOCIATES 404-454-5620
Zenith Acquisition Corp 716-799-0511

Debt Collector Negotiation Secret for You: You may stand a better chance of negotiating with a collector near the end of the month, because it is getting close to the end of their ability to earn bonus revenue.

Stop Debt Collector Calls to Employer - One of the bits of personal info you don't care to have your boss know about, is your financial situation. Difficulties with personal finance could jeopardize promotion opportunities and being selected for sensitive duties such as accounting.

Although it's in the debt collector's best interest for you maintain employment, at the same time what good is it for them if you have a job but you're not paying the bill? If they cannot reach you by other means, you force them into the position of having to call you at work.

Fortunately the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act specifically defines the situations that a collector can contact your employer and they're generally not allowed to let it slip that you owe a debt.

Federal Law on Collector Contact With Debtor Employers - The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act allows debt collectors to contact certain third-parties but only to get contact and location information about you and this DOES include your employer. Debt collectors can contact your employer to confirm your employment, which they might get from your credit report, the original creditor, or from another third-party. They can only contact your employer once, unless the employer gives permission to make contact again. The collector is also allowed to contact your employer again if the collector believes the employer gave them false information.

Even though the collector has the legal right to find out information about you, they have a legal obligation not to give out information regarding why they're calling. Whenever a debt collector contacts any third-party to get your contact information, including your employer, they're not allowed to reveal that they're a debt collector or that they're collecting a debt.

In their efforts to get you to pay, debt collectors can contact you at work unless they know or should know your employer doesn't allow you to accept those types of calls at work. You only have to inform the collector that you can't receive personal calls at work and they'll no longer contact you. However, if the collector doesn't have any other contact information for you, they may call your friends, neighbors, or employer to figure out how to get in touch with you. Protecting your job and your reputation is yet another huge reason why you should not avoid debt collectors, but instead try desperately to work with them.

In many cases, debt collectors will only contact your employer if they can't contact you. So if you've been dodging their calls and letters, there's a greater chance collectors will start looking for you elsewhere. Paying or settling the debt collection will cease all current and future debt collector communications.

If you've given your employer permission to check your credit report, for example if you're up for a promotion or salary increase, they'll learn about your collection. Whether the collection will be used against you will depend on your employer and the position or raise that you're being considered for.

Impact of a Debt Wage Garnishment - The debt collector can also contact your employer after they've gotten a court order to garnish your wages. A wage garnishment can only happen after the debt collector has won a lawsuit judgment against you and has gained permission from the court to garnish your wages. Thanks to the Consumer Credit Protection Act, your employer can't fire you for just one wage garnishment. But, if you have multiple garnishments, the law doesn't protect your job.

How to Stop Debt Collector Contact - Use a debt validation letter to delay collectors by forcing them to send proof that the debt is yours and that they're authorized to collect it from you. It's also a good idea to request validation on debts that you don't believe you owe.

You can use a cease and desist letter to stop debt collector calls for a particular collection agency. Note that debt collector calls may resume if another collection agency purchases or is assigned to that debt.

Wage Garnishment VS Wage Assignment - What's the difference?

Wage Garnishment: A court enters a judgment against a debtor and allows the creditor to have a portion of the judgment amount automatically taken out of the debtor's paycheck. This process is called a wage garnishment. Many states have regulations that limit how much a creditor can "garnish" from an individual's wages.

Wage Assignment: A debtor agrees to repay through voluntary installments automatically deducted from paychecks. A collection agency may convince a debtor to agree to have the employer send a portion of his wages directly to the creditor. The assignment, in effect, works similar to a wage garnishment, but the consumer does a wage assignment voluntarily. The court has no role in this action. In some states, a wage assignment may violate state laws.

Why creditors use debt collectors:

Demand for payment letters from the creditor were ineffective. When a creditor has already sent several reminder letters about a debtor's outstanding account, chances are the debtor was not motivated by any of those letters.
When an account becomes 60 days past due, the creditor's chances of recovering the money drastically drops.
Many people have a greater reaction when they receive a 3rd party debt collection notice. They worry about their credit score and that a collector may sue in court for payment.
Some creditors do not have the resources to track down debtors who have relocated or changed phone numbers. Collection agencies use multiple sources to locate debtors, such as facebook, myspace, contacting friends, family and employers.

What would a collection agency say if I threaten to file bankruptcy? An aggressive collection agency doesn't want you to think you have any power over them. If you threaten bankruptcy filing, such collectors may pretend to be glad you do that, just to throw you off. They may state they will then recover the debt through "Bankruptcy Insurance", which simply does not exist.

Why should I use a credit counseling or debt settlement company vs doing it myself? With all the various tricks debt collectors use, it may be easy for them to lure you into a trap or to get you to settle for higher payment than a professional could get for you.

Debt

Out of control debts are keeping many Americans stressed and searching for ways to get debt relief. Some of the ways people try to manage debts is through debt settlement, debt consolidation, bankruptcy or a self help plan. For some people, they try to budget better or go out and get a second or even third job. Extra jobs could prove to be even more tiring and stressful than being in debt. One thing is for sure, debts will not evaporate into thin air, there must be some type of plan in action. There are many great debt relief companies online who can give a quote for debt problems. Any course of action usually requires some dedication on the part of the person in debt. Then there are just times when a small loan is needed to pay one bill, to be able to avoid high late fees. In this case there may be a friend or family member who may be able to loan money.

There are trillions of people who are in debt and many are having to choose which debts to pay and which debts will go unpaid. Debts that are over thirty or more days late will have a big impact on credit scores. Yet, many people who have lost jobs or have financial problems due to other difficulties, are having to choose to not pay some of their debts because of dire circumstances. Many advisers recommend that at least the minimum should be paid on debts, but if that is not possible, some must make drastic decisions about what to pay and what to delay.

Some debts must be paid, especially taxes, alimony, or even child support. Then there is food, shelter, the mortgage or rent, and other debts that are a necessity in life. When debts are not going to be paid, be sure to weigh the cost of non-repayment and the effect it will have on your life. For example, if the mortgage or car note is not paid, those are secured debts that could be lost due to non payment. People need a place to live and an auto to get to and from work. Consider credit scores and how any negative information from not paying debts will affect the possibility of being rejected for loans or credit cards in the future.

Talk to creditors, many may be willing to discuss a new payment structure, especially if they think someone maybe close to filing bankruptcy. Most would rather have some payment each month than none. They may have payment options that can ease the financial stresses for a short time. Of course any reduced payments means it will take longer to pay off the debt. Another choice could be to consolidate some debts so there is only one, low monthly payment instead of too many bills due each month. Some lenders may be willing to freeze the interest rates or lower monthly payments for a while if there is proof or some type of documentation that there is a hardship.

The worst thing that is often done when debts are out of control or late, is that no plan is put into action. Then debts just stack up and have late fees added or interest rates are raised. This only serves to add more debt to the existing debt. When this happens it can take much longer to try to payoff or catch up on bills.

ACCS.org/ Review

American Credit Counseling Service (ACCS) was founded on March 1, 1988, with a mission to help consumers, by providing financial education to those in need. In June, 1989, in response to requests from the United Way, ACCS began providing no-fee one on one credit counseling to United Way clients, in addition to seminars. ACCS was incorporated as a “not for profit” corporation, American Credit Counseling Service, Inc., in March, 1992, and received its tax exempt IRS 501 c (3) status in August, 1994. We continue to provide quality Financial Education to the consumer, and we still conduct seminars and workshops to the public, free of charge. We maintain a policy of lowering or waiving our fees for consumers, the majority of which are low income. We staff our nationwide toll-free telephone numbers for consumers that seek free credit and financial advice. We at ACCS feel that we provide services that are essential to all the communities that we touch.

Personal Budget Assistance - A budget is the basic tool needed for all financial decisions. Learn how to develop yours today. Need more assistance, give ACCS a call.

Credit Card Troubles - ACCS is there to assist you with credit and money problems. Help is a click away.

Financial Education - Education is the key to being a well informed consumer. ACCS has lots of resources on all aspects of your finances.

Credit Report Information - Have you checked your credit lately? It is important to review your credit reports. If its been a while, check them today. If you have questions, our counselors are ready to assist you.

Questions To Ask a Credit Counseling Agency:
* What services do you offer?
* Do you offer a free consultation?
* Will you help me develop a budget and a plan for avoiding problems in the future?
* How much and what type of fees do you have?
* What if I can’t afford to pay your fees?
* What qualifications do your Counselors have?
* Are the Counselors certified by an outside organization?
* What training do the counselors receive?
* What do you do to keep information about me (including my address, phone number, and financial information) confidential and secure?
* How are your Counselors paid?
* Are Counselors paid more if I sign up for certain services?
* Are Counselors paid more if I pay a fee, or if I make a contribution to your organization?

Sue a Debt Collection Agency and Reasons to Pay a Collector

Yes, you can sue a debt collection agency for violating regulations, yet there are good reasons why you should pay debt collectors instead of defaulting.

Letter to Stop Credit Collector Calls

Sample letter on how to stop collection agency harassment.

Zombie debt collectors

Zombie debt collection companies buy bad debts for pennies on the dollar and then hassle people to pay, many operating in violation of federal law.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filing Information and Procedure

A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a wage earner's plan. It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts. Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years. If the debtor's current monthly income is less than the applicable state median, the plan will be for three years unless the court approves a longer period "for cause." (1) If the debtor's current monthly income is greater than the applicable state median, the plan generally must be for five years. In no case may a plan provide for payments over a period longer than five years. 11 U.S.C. §1322(d). During this time the law forbids creditors from starting or continuing collection efforts.

Free Sample Credit and Debt Letters

With our free sample credit and debt letters, you can dispute a credit report entry, stop debt collector calls, request debt validation, close a credit card, delete a credit report entry, report a billing error, optout of a higher interest rate, and challenge a debt's statute of limitations.

Bill Collector Bad Debt Collection

A new scam against credit consumers involves debt collection companies inventing past due bills and demanding repayment. Watch what you payoff.

Collection Agency Rules, How to Respond to Harassing Calls

Bill collector problems? Negotiating credit card chargeoffs? How to deal with Debt Collection Agency Harassment.

How to Tell Debt Collectors Not to Call

If a debt collector is calling constantly about debts; whether you actually owe or not, you have the right to tell them not to call you. Read our free tips and download our sample letters to send to creditor and debt collection agencies.

Harassing Debt Collector Fined

A harassing debt collector was fined $2.25 million. Review federal regulations and rules that protect your rights. If you need help with a debt collection company, consider do it yourself free debt settlement, credit counseling or an unsecured debt consolidation loan.

Old Debt Collections

Are old debt collections resurfacing? Zombie Debt Collectors will try to get you to payoff old credit card debt obligations. Learn how to respond, debt statute of limitations and your rights.

Review Disclaimer: Review information was gleaned from the website, and is neither an endorsement by us nor an confirmation of content nor a warranty of any promises made by the website. Use the review information at your sole discretion and sole liability.

Underage Debt - Minor Credit Card Debt: If an underage child obtains a credit card and racks up charges, typically the parents are not responsible for paying off the charges.

The only reason why a parent may be required to pay a minor's debt is:
* if the parent is listed on the account
* if the parent assisted in getting the minor credit card
* if a court rules that you were a negligent parent

Minors can't be held to contracts. As such, many credit card companies will not try to collect from a minor, but legally they could sue (state laws vary). It's possible that the minor may be ordered to repay the debt.

Get more information about debt, and read our articles related to debt counseling.

Free Debt Tracking Software

Chargeoff credit card - How to charge off credit card balances yourself, or get professional help from a debt settlement company.

Christmas credit card debt - Options on how to get help with too much Christmas credit card debt.

Consolidate student loan - Apply to refinance student loan debt for a lower interest rate and payments.

Credit card debt - Free help to get out of credit card debt and tips on how to avoid debt.

Credit card debt consolidation - Credit card debt consolidation quote to combine and lower monthly bills

Debt collection agency rules - There are important facts you need to know before you contact; or are contacted by, debt collection agencies.

Credit counseling - Learn about credit counseling and how to choose a good company.

Credit counseling versus debt settlement - Decide which alternative is the best option for you.

Debt consolidation loan - Payoff bills with a debt consolidation loan.

Debt counseling - Lower monthly bill payments or reduce principal altogether.

Debt negotiation - Chargeoff debt; reduce principal owed.

Debt negotiation sample letter - Do It Yourself debt settlement.

Get out of debt - Ways to get out of debt, either Do It Yourself or with a Company.

Government debt consolidation loans - Truth about government loans to pay bills.

Free debt settlement - Do It Yourself debt settlement to negotiate lower bills.

Joint credit card debt - Which spouse pays the bills (loans and credit cards) after divorce.

Negotiate debt settlement - Settle debt yourself with your loan and/or credit card company.

Nonprofit credit counseling - What to look for when choosing a credit counseling company.

Nonprofit debt consolidation - Advantages of debt consolidation.

Nonhomeowner debt consolidation loan - Options for nonhomeowners to pay off debt.

Payoff balance - Tips to payoff balance of credit card debt and how to avoid the debt trap.

Pay off debt - Loan options and tips to pay off debt.

Personal budget - Download our personal budget software.

Personal budget software - How to use our personal budget software.

Reduce bills free - Tips on how to reduce your expenses to lower bills.

Reminders to pay bills - Free reminders so you pay bills on time.

Repay payday loan - Strategy to repay a payday loan.

Track expenses - Free software to track where you spend your money most.

Unsecured debt - What qualifies as unsecured debt.

Unsecured debt consolidation - Combine bills into one low monthly payment.

Unsecured debt consolidation loan - Get a loan to payoff high interest debt.

View our sample letters such as a Debt Verification Letter to challenge a debt and a collection agency's right to collect.

Auto Loan: Get free quotes and apply for a new or used auto loan or for auto refinancing.

Credit Card: Search for secured and unsecured credit card applications and apply online. Applications for all types of cards ranging from an instant approval bad credit card to no deposit cards, including platinum credit card rewards.

Credit Report: Free credit report help to fix credit report errors and improve credit score ratings. You are entitled to one free credit report annually.

Free Credit Offers: Get no obligation, free credit offers plus financial tips to help effectively manage your personal finances.

Home Loan: Free multiple quotes from mortgage lenders. Apply for a new home loan and start building your financial security.

Mortgage Refinancing: 2nd mortgage loan and other types of mortgage refinancing for home remodeling, equity cash out or a debt consolidation loan and more.

Payday Loan: Easy approval bad credit unsecured loan with no credit check, no deposit and no security.

Personal Loan: Submit a short or long term personal loan application (if available), or apply for other secured or unsecured loan offers.

Personal Finance: How to file bankruptcy plus free bankruptcy forms. Create a household personal budget, balance a checkbook register, track expenses and more.

What Is A Debt Management Plan

Legitimate Debt Relief, Consolidation and Settlement

Pay Credit Card Bills for Rewards

Get Out of Debt Free and Fast

Credit Card Debt Relief Options

Getting out of Joint Credit Card Debt

Go To Jail For Not Paying Bill

Lower Credit Card Balances

Who Pays Joint Spouse Debt

Credit Counseling VS Debt Settlement VS Bankruptcy Filing

Free Debt Advice

Free Tips to Avoid Credit Card Charges

Free Money Saving Tips

Student Credit Card Debt

Instant Emergency Loan Application and Preparation

Stop Bill Collector Calls and Threats

Get Out of Payday Loan Debt

Cant Make Credit Card Payments

Credit Card Debt Relief

High Rate Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Debt Default

Budgets, Debt Management, Consolidation, Settlement, Counseling and Bankruptcy

Credit Card Debt Advice

Credit Card Christmas Debt

Payoff Credit Card Debt

Debt Loan Advice

College Student Credit Card Debt

Stop Credit Card Debt

Stop Debt Save Money

Debt Free Money

How To Reduce Debt

Biggest Debt Mistakes

Short and Long Term Debt Relief

Debt Relief Tips

Credit Card Max Lowers Score

Free Debt Relief Advice

Money To Payoff Debt

Calculate Debt And Payoff

Stop Credit Card Debt Abuse

Debt Solutions

Credit Card Balance Transfer Debt

Manage Debt Yourself

Long Term Plan to Pay Off Bills

Payoff Debts Without Loans

$10000 Loan for Credit Card Bills

High Credit Card Charges

Unpaid Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Charge Off

Fraud and Credit Scams Target Debt People

Bankruptcy Debt

Payoff Credit Card Debt

$10000 Cash Personal Expenses

Good Bills VS Bad Debt

10 Personal Budget Reasons

Bankruptcy Filing

Unknown Debt Collection Agency

Pay Off Debt Options

Divorce and Debts

Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling Bad News

Debt Consolidation and Debt Settlement

Ending the Debt Cycle

Debt Settlement Facts

Zombie debt collectors

Payoff Balance

Reduce Bills

Debt Consolidation Loan

Credit Counselor

Credit Card Debt

Christmas Credit Card Bills

Chargeoff Credit Card

Balance Transfer Debt

Credit Counseling

Student Credit Card Debts

Credit Counseling FAQs

Collection Agencies

Free Debt Collection Agency Tips

Debt Collectors Violating Do Not Call List

Stop Debt Collection Agency Calls

Fake Phantom Debt Collectors

Debt Collector Verification

Statute of Limitations Debt Collection Act

Debt Collection Statute Of Limitation

Debt Collectors

Letter to Stop Credit Collector Calls

Collection Agency Harassment

Debt Settlement

Credit Card Debt Settlement

Debt Settlement Advice

Credit Card Debt Relief Options

Chargeoff Credit Card Debt and Rebuild Credit Score

Do It Yourself Free Debt Settlement or Use a Debt Negotiation Company

Debt Collection Agency Negotiation

Debt Settlement Company FAQ

Debt Settlement

Sample Debt Settlement and Negotiation Letter

Debt Consolidation

Credit Card Debt Relief Options

Debts And Bills

What Is Unsecured Debt Consolidation

Sooner or later, debt wins. If you ignore your spending limits, eventually all your income will be spoken for even before you earn it. If you don't exercise self-control beforehand, the day will come when you simply won't have any more money to waste, nor the ability to get a credit card or a loan.

For effective debt elimination, you have to use your cash, credit cards and loans carefully and stop the cycle of buying now and paying later. Sharpen your money management skills and stay determined to be debt free.