Questions tagged [debt-collection]
For questions related to debt collection, debt collection agencies, unpaid debts, etc.
2
votes
1answer
170 views
Does not paying a collections company affect credit score?
From a discussion in comments, a question came up. For the purpose of this question, all I care about is my credit score.
I got a credit card, used it and did not pay it back.
The credit card ...
1
vote
2answers
142 views
Should I pay off a credit card or a collection balance first?
I have a collection and a credit card with roughly the same balance. I received a bonus and I am able to pay off one of them completely. Which is more beneficial to pay off first?
0
votes
1answer
177 views
Improving credit: what should I do about very old debt; ignore, settle, or pay it in full?
I have about $6,000 of very old debt. It went into collections about 3 years ago when I was in college.
Today I have a good job, and I am thinking about the future. I am now interested in improving ...
0
votes
0answers
81 views
Notices to Previous Employer
A debt collector sent court notices to my previous employer after I had already moved to another city and obtained another job. Because the notices went unanswered I now have court records against me ...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
How to negotiate a debt in collections?
I have a debt that has been in collections for a significant period of time (>10 years). The debt is from a college loan that defaulted when the lender (a private school) didn't send the deferment ...
88
votes
6answers
29k views
I co-signed on an apartment for a now ex-boyfriend who refuses to pay. What can I do?
I co-signed on an apartment with my ex-boyfriend when I was 18 and he was 21. We broke up.
I am now 26 and it has been in collections for years. He refuses to help pay the debt. I am now stuck with ...
2
votes
0answers
125 views
Student loans paid already but collection agency claiming loans are in default
I paid off my student loans via pay garnishments and the IRS taking 3 to 4 years of my tax refunds.
Unfortunately, I have moved 5 times in last 2 years and I cannot find my files confirming this.
...
3
votes
2answers
140 views
Does an unpaid medical bill that is sent to collections have any adverse affect besides affecting the credit score?
I know that an unpaid medical bill affects the credit score if it is sent to collections. But is there any more adverse affect that it creates?
1
vote
0answers
106 views
Can debt collectors or creditors combine multiple “accounts” into one to increase sum above $100?
In this case, someone has several medical debts, for separate procedures/office visits. Each of these debts is of an amount less than $100.
It would seem that, since the visits are separate, these ...
0
votes
2answers
139 views
Can a sole proprietorship start a debt collection business
Can I buy bad debt under a sole proprietorship?
I've considered the costs of an LLC versus a sole proprietorship.
However to dig deeper, I am unaware on "who can buy debt", and where to find these ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Original creditor forwarding payments to collection agency
In 2017 I had back surgery performed at an orthopedic specialist surgery center. During the billing process I set up auto-draft for all of the bills so that I would not have to worry about missing a ...
3
votes
0answers
229 views
14 year old charge on utility bill
I recently bought a house and signed up for utilities. I then go to sign up for automatic payments on their webpage, and it says I owe over $400 from when my account was last active in 2004.
I know ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Do I need to get it in writing when paying off collections accounts?
I have a credit card in collections with a balance of $1972. I will be able to pay this off in a couple of weeks. I have read a lot of articles that say that I can negotiate to have the balance ...
6
votes
2answers
248 views
Medical bill with wrong name sent to collections
A few weeks after my wife gave birth, the medical bills started rolling in. One of them was addressed to "BB Last Name)." Our last name is not common but there are other people in our city with the ...
4
votes
1answer
236 views
Better to pay debt collectors or original provider?
I was having a conversation with a colleague about repairing credit. He believes if you have a debt that went to collection, that it's best to pay the original provider of the goods or services. ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
What is the most efficient way to dispute an invalid collection on a credit report?
I had a surgery and a ton of medical issues. All but one thing went through insurance. The healthcare provider for that one thing went straight to collections. I contacted them, and my insurance ...
25
votes
6answers
12k views
Potential debt collection scam from National Credit Systems?
Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from an organization called National Credit Systems. In the letter, they say that I owe them $230 to the apartment manager that I rented from 3 years ago. I ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Collections account on one credit report yet CreditKarma reports my scores are almost the same. Why?
I've been fighting with the credit reporting agencies to get an incorrect collections account removed from my report. Two of the three have complied, but TransUnion is being very stubborn. It's been ...
-4
votes
2answers
589 views
Can you abandon debt if you move address and open a new bank account? [closed]
This is a hypothetical situation. Let's say Bob, who lives in the UK, has a lot of debt to bank A, about £10,000 in credit card debt and another £10,000 or so in loans, overdrafts, and unpaid fees.
...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
Can credit card debt be negotiated?
A family member with Credit Card Debt has missed a few payments. The bank sent a letter saying that they would be willing to settle for 20% less of the current debt.
Question: Can the debt be ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
Can a bill be sent to a third-party debt collector at any time?
Bob lives in the United States. A business billed Bob. Can the business send the bill to a third-party debt collector at any time? (e.g., does the business have to wait a certain amount of time? ; ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
When does a debt collection affect one's credit score in the United States?
Bob lives in the United States. Bob didn't pay for a bill, and the bill was sent to a third-party debt collector. When will it start affecting Bob's credit score? For example, will Bob's credit score ...
44
votes
3answers
7k views
Why would a lien appear on a mortgage after 17 years?
I have a 30 year, fixed rate mortgage from the year 2000. I have never missed a payment and don't have any other debt. A couple of months ago, I a got a letter sent by a company I never heard of (...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Multiple credit cards for one debt? [closed]
Scenario:
A person owes $30,000 in school debt to a single entity. The person also has THREE credit cards. Each month, the person pays $500 using credit card 1 towards the debt and $50 (minimum fee) ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Collections calling thanks to BioLife. Is this a scam?
My father just received a phone call from collections saying he owes $650 for a product he purchased in 2015. We thought it was a scam call at first but they seemed to have his personal information ...
2
votes
1answer
248 views
How does “debt prescription” work in America (Utah if that matters)? [closed]
When googling for "debt prescription" I get a lot of hits in South Africa. Is it called something else in US English? And to the point, how does it work in America? Specifically contracts such as "...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Debt sent to collections while still attempting to solve with vendor
In California, can personal debt be sent to collections while you are still engaging in a potential resolution with the vendor?
Example: communication with the vendor towards a solution is moving, ...
8
votes
1answer
217 views
Old collection keeps resurfacing on my credit
[This question is very similar to Credit Report debt expiration limit: original creditor vs. Collection, but I'm solely concerned with the 7-year FCRA rule and my ability / legal right, or lack ...
5
votes
1answer
777 views
How to Dispute a Medical Bill that Went to Collections
I had a 2-hour ER visit for a biking accident at an out-of-network location in 2014, and provided the insurance information at check-in. Four months later the hospital and the doctors (charging ...
-2
votes
1answer
2k views
Received debt collection notice regarding unpaid college course
A couple years ago, I took a college course at a community college that would transfer to my University. After a week, I simply stopped attending, and didn't return the book I had rented from them.
...
95
votes
8answers
23k views
How to deal with the credit card debt from family member that has passed away?
My father recently passed away and had some considerable amount of debt on his credit cards. House and credit card were in the deceased’s name only. The state that is happening in is New Jersey.
In ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
Disputed bill awaiting response sent to collection agency
I have a family member who disputed a medical bill she received in April. Essentially, the provider billed for a code that indicated it was a 30-minute visit, instead of 5. Upon receiving the bill, ...
10
votes
1answer
999 views
Do I still need to pay college I owe money to even when they are no longer operating/shutdown?
Few years ago I attended this college in NH, USA. I owed them about $5,000 for courses and housing. Since I couldn't afford to pay for the next semester, I stopped going to that school.
About 4 ...
0
votes
2answers
378 views
Contacted by a debt collection agency in Netherlands but I have practically never been there
I live in Italy, and over the past few weeks I have been finding missed calls by a phone number from the Netherlands; since I have a relative that works there my first thought was that the number ...
1
vote
2answers
401 views
Best way to deal with a $2700 Collection for unpaid apartment expenses
I am looking to rent a townhome and I have a credit score of 762.
Over a month ago I got a notice about a new account on my credit report, so I look into it. $2800 collections notice from an ...
1
vote
4answers
97 views
Payment plan with bank or negotiate with collection agency?
If I have a credit card bill that's months over due, I assume my credit is already shot because of the bill being overdue. The bank sent a notice that if I don't respond within a certain amount of ...
3
votes
1answer
694 views
Unpaid College Tuition - Does Statute of Limitations Apply?
I have over $10K in outstanding debt to my old college. Due to an issue with my parents' tax return my final year of attending, my FAFSA was invalidated, and all financial aid (loans, grants, and ...
74
votes
6answers
25k views
A debt collector will not allow me to pay a debt, what steps should I take?
I was contacted several months ago about a debt collection for an incredibly small sum. I asked to be sent something in the mail where I could remit payment for it. The individual told me the debt ...
2
votes
2answers
537 views
Can I pay a creditor directly after they have sent the debt to a collection agency?
Let's say you have a credit line account with a department store. You owe a balance on the credit card and it was sent to collections. In order to pay this off, is it possible to still send regular ...
4
votes
2answers
323 views
I have asked for proof of debt and been told they “don't need to prove it”
I lived in the Netherlands for about 6 months in 2015 and was a customer of Ziggo (internet provider).
When I cancelled my account (November 2015) they told me (on the phone, not recorded) that there ...
8
votes
2answers
954 views
Distant relative inheritance and outstanding debts
My mom's cousin Larry passed away earlier this year. He wasn't in touch with any family for the later part of his life, but when he became ill, he contacted my mom and she did a lot of work to help ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Does paying a debt reset the clock on my Credit Report? [duplicate]
I have a debt from 4 years back that is on my credit report. Because I have been out of the country for 4 years, I did not know about the debt until now.
My question is, does paying the debt reset the ...
4
votes
1answer
182 views
College Debt/Collections
I graduated from a community college in Alabama 10 years ago on scholarship.
I receive a call from an attorney a few months ago regarding unpaid tuition/fees from this particular college.He is ...
8
votes
2answers
262 views
Collections out of SOL, should i leave it or pay?
I used to live in America back in 2012, where I had T-Mobile. I left the country in 2012 and closed my account with T-Mobile but apparently that was never done on their side and I no longer have any ...
1
vote
2answers
103 views
On a debt collection agency's letter, what does “balance” refer to?
What does the term balance refer to on a letter from a debt collection agency? Is this the money that is owed or is this the money available to pay off this debt?
1
vote
1answer
182 views
What's The Best Way To Pay Off My Collections?
I have a poor credit score, 597 to be exact. I'm 23 years old and looking to purchase a car but of course I want to get my finances in order. The only 2 major hits I have on my credit reports are from ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
life insurance proceeds to creditor
What happens when a beneficiary, who receives life insurance monies in a payout, owes the estate? Can the estate then sue the beneficiary for money owed to the estate? The beneficiary lives in another ...
3
votes
3answers
263 views
Credit Score, Collection from 1 year ago, have not lived in america for 4 years
I used to live in America for 2 years, but i moved back to my home country in December 2012, i will however will be moving back to American next month. I checked my credit score (story behind why in ...
2
votes
3answers
14k views
Harris & Harris Debt Collector is harrassing me
I'm getting several robocalls (automated calls) from Harris & Harris Debt Collectors saying that I owe a debt but they won't tell me any more information. I don't know how to stop them. I found ...
3
votes
3answers
836 views
How much will my credit improve if I pay off all the negatives and there's nothing else on it?
My TransUnion is 497, and Equifax is 469. I couldn't remember the information they needed to verify my identity online for the third credit agency.
The only things on the reports are 5 things on ...
