Learning To Fix Bad Credit
How to Fix Your Credit Report
Here are some important tips on How to re-establish your credit report, for shoppers and merchants.
How do I stop debt collectors from contacting me?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive practices to collect overdue bills that a creditor has forwarded for collection.You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collection agency telling them to stop. Once the debt collector receives your letter, the company may not contact you again - with two exceptions: they can tell you there will be no further contact and they can tell you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action.
A collector also may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe the money. In this case, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt. So, along with your letter stating you don't owe the money, include copies of documents that support your position. Including a copy (NOT an original) of the police report you filed may be particularly useful.
If you don't have documentation to support your position, be as specific as possible about why the debt collector is mistaken. The debt collector is responsible for sending you proof that you're wrong. For example, if the debt in dispute originates from a credit card you never applied for, ask for the actual application containing the applicant's signature. You can then prove that it's not your signature on the application. However, in many cases, the debt collector will not send you any proof, but will instead return the debt to the creditor.
Remember, while you can stop the debt collectors from contacting you, that won't necessarily get rid of the debt itself. It's important to contact the creditors individually to dispute the debt otherwise the creditor may send it to a different debt collector, report it on your credit report, or institute a lawsuit.
For more information, consult Fair Debt Collection.