Debt Relief Information

Debt Validation: Do you have to pay ?


It happens all the time. Debt collectors try to collect on debts that consumers have no knowledge of or never owed in the first place. So, what do you do when a bill collector demands payment in full on a debt that you never knew existed? You need to request a validation of debt.

A validation of debt is a request for proof that the collection agency that is contacting you owns the debt/or has been assigned the right to collect the debt on behalf of an original creditor. A validation of debt also includes a complete payment history, starting with the original creditor, and a copy of the original signed loan agreement or credit card application. This may be a debt you really owe or possibly a debt that was sent to collections by mistake. Either way, debt collectors can be very unapproachable. It is important to remember that you also have rights. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Paragraph 809, - Validation of Debts:

"(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing:

(1) the amount of the debt;

(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;

(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;

(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and

(5) a statement that, upon the consumer's written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.

(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector. (c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer.

The information presented in this article only covers some of the more important aspects of debt validation. It is important to do your research and fully understand your rights and obligations prior to attempting any type of communication with a debt collector.

Alan Barnes IAPDA Certified Debt Arbitrator President and CEO of Debt Regret http://www.debtregret.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Go Debt Relief, Now a Member Lexington Chamber of Commerce
PR.com (press release), NY - Aug 20, 2008
A slumping economy has more and more consumers looking for help with their credit card debt. Go Debt Relief is assisting people struggling with their high ...


Budget Relief in Sight for Homeowners as Innovative Way to Tap ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
REX & Co., a real estate investment company dedicated to creating safe alternatives to debt financing, announced today that it has expanded the REX ...


Emerging debt-Asian bond spreads widen; no relief in sight
Reuters India, India - 17 hours ago
HONG KONG, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Asian bond spreads widened on Thursday for a third consecutive session, tracking declines in regional stock markets amid ...


IMF, Paris Club applaud debt relief grant
WOW, Gambia - Aug 19, 2008
In December of 2007, the International Monetary fund (IMF) granted The Gambia a milestone debt relief package worth $140 million. In a statement at time, ...


Senate funds veterinary student debt relief program
American Veterinary Medical Association, IL - Aug 19, 2008
Congress passed NVMSA in 2003 to offer school debt relief to veterinarians who opt to work in underserviced areas, such as rural communities experiencing a ...


Mozambique: Mozambican government negotiates foreign debt relief ...
Macauhub, Macau - Aug 19, 2008
Maputo, Mozambique, 19 Aug – The Mozambican government is negotiating with Libya and Bulgaria the relief of its debt to those non Paris Club countries ...


Law students being offered debt relief for picking public service ...
Norman Transcript, OK - Aug 18, 2008
By Julianna Parker Law students who want to pay off debt quickly now will have an incentive to enter public service. A measure recently signed into law will ...


Tax credit programs may help new, foreclosed homeowners
Warrenton Journal, MO - 13 hours ago
The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which was signed into law in late December 2007, provides needed financial relief for this year and through 2009 ...


Tanzania says to seek debt rating, plans bond
Reuters South Africa, South Africa - 8 hours ago
The economy of about 40 million people is among Africa's largest recipients of aid and received $336 million in debt relief from the IMF under the Highly ...


AFP

Rate cuts: no relief unless you ask
The Canberra Times, Australia - 5 hours ago
Mr Fahour said 50 per cent of the bank's funds came from deposits, 20 per cent from short-term debt, 20 per cent from debt over longer terms and 10 per cent ...
NAB the first to pass on interest rate cut The Australian
NAB vows to pass on rate cut Sydney Morning Herald
Banks outperform the broader market The Australian
all 809 news articles

debt relief - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.