Credit Repair Letter Sample For Credit Report Disputes
May 31, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Credit Repair
Credit Repair Letter Sample / Credit Report Dispute Letter
Once you order your free annual credit report, be sure to check it carefully. It is very common to find errors, or outdated information in your credit reports. For instance, any late payment information should only stay on your credit report for 7 years. If you find any records that are more than 7 years old, you can ask the credit report agency to remove it.
You can find many sample credit report dispute letters online. Be very careful when you use them. Make sure you do not copy and paste them word for word. If you use a sample letter that is flowing around online and being used by many many people, credit report agencies would recognize the letter and they can reject your credit dispute because they think it is frivolous.
Here is a sample credit repair letter you can use. Make sure to change it around to fit your situation. Also, don’t forget to include a copy of your credit report when you send the letter to the credit report agencies with the inaccurate records circled.
Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department
Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are circled on the attached copy of the report I received.
This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records and court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)
If you want to find more proven credit repair letter, check out Credit Repair Magic. You will get many more effective Credit Repair letters that you can’t find anywhere online. They also show you how to write a credit report dispute letter that the credit reporting agencies will take it seriously.
Real Cost Of Bankruptcy – Understand the Impact of Personal Bankruptcy
May 30, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
While many do not know this prior to making their decision to file for bankruptcy, a discharged bankruptcy comes with serious consequences in both your personal and professional life.
For many, personal bankruptcy is often a “last resort,” driven partly by harassing demands of credit and debt collection companies. Although bankruptcy might seem like a quick and easy fix to the harassing calls and sleepless nights, one must never rush into making such a decision. While filing for bankruptcy can momentarily end the consequences of your financial condition, almost all others who have gone bankrupt admit that it was one of the biggest mistakes they ever made.
Like everything else in life, personal bankruptcy comes with consequences. Here are some of the most popular consequences that you can expect in your personal and financial life:
One of the biggest risks that bankruptcy poses to the debtor is that assets are often sold by the trustee to settle debts. Assets are anything of value, including property, investments, and other items of value.
While current assets are obviously at risk, a lot of people do not realize that future assets such as inheritance money can also be subject to claims by creditors.
In addition to the sale of assets, the impact of personal bankruptcy includes harmful records on your credit bureau. Bankruptcy will impact your intentions to act as a company director and obtain non-personal credit for the rest of your life.
Perhaps the worst impact of personal bankruptcy comes after the bankruptcy order is advertised locally. This damages the reputation of an individual’s name and personal business dealings. Unlike companies, individual debtors cannot trade under a different name. So for the debtor who has declared bankruptcy in the past, all of this information is available in the public domain.
What is likely the harshest impact of personal bankruptcy is something that comes after the bankruptcy notice is advertised. Given the public nature of bankruptcy, the debtor’s name and personal business dealings are in jeopardy. Unlike companies who can operate under different trade names, individuals have just one name. And since bankruptcy are publicly available, anyone can access the details of your bankruptcy.
Personal bankruptcy will have an impact on your reputation. With your financial affairs being examined in an open court, the process will not only prove to be extremely stressful, but others have found the whole experience rather humiliating.
In addition to the items discussed here, bankruptcy also impacts your financial condition given that there are court costs and other fees. You need to have at least some money in order to go bankrupt.
If you are considering bankruptcy as a debt clearance option, then try gaining some knowledge about other alternatives. For more information on the impact of personal bankruptcy and its alternatives refer to e-books and manuals available on the net.
Debt Consolidation and Reduction
May 28, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
So, you can see the writing on the wall now, you are in too deep and your creditors are starting to ring you in your home in the evenings too. You are aware that you have to do something, but you don’t know just what. It’s so embarrassing talking to the kid from the debt collection department, especially over the phone, but you don’t want to take time off work to go down there either! But you can’t wish the problem away either. You think that you need to look into debt consolidation and reduction.
However, before you think about debt consolidation and reduction loans, take a look at your debts to calculate your total debt. Debt is an avenue of credit lines given to you by creditors who thought that you would repay the amount borrowed or owed. When creditors become aware that you are behind on your repayments, they will usually delay a few weeks before informing the collection agencies.
During this time, you might want to get in touch with your creditors and request an extension of time, a debt reduction, or even a complete termination of the debt. Creditors do expect to get their money back and therefore, they may extend your credit period, because they want to avoid the problems that crop up when they have to report a customer for a default on payment.
Creditors do not really want to make enemies of their customers, since they expect their customers to show good faith and pay the debts and eventually continue doing business with them. If you fail to contact your creditors, however they will turn your files over to the collection agencies in the end if they have to. These agencies often use much more severe methods to recover the debt owed.
These agencies will go to almost any lengths to stress you to the point where you find a method to pay, or else stress you to the point that you need to seek professional help. Debt consolidation and reduction is a means of eliminating debts, while a loan may or may not be needed.
When you do get in touch with your creditors, ask them for leniency, so that you can attempt some form of debt consolidation and reduction by cutting back on your expenses. If the creditors agree to debt consolidation and reduction by lowering your payments, terminating it, or else providing you with an extension and you don’t take advantage of their generous offer, ie, if you fail to start repayments after the offer is made, then they will not be as friendly the next time you contact them.
Make sure that you repay your debts as agreed with your creditors to minimize any further complications. Communication is of the utmost importance, because once you have ceased talking to your creditors, they have every right to go all out to retrieve their money. This will assist you in your debt consolidation and reduction.
The Perfect Credit Repair Roadmap
May 28, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Bad Credit Help
Introduction
Are you considering credit repair, but don’t know where to start. You can hire a reputable credit repair service to manage the job for you, but you still must participate in the process. Here is a roadmap of the path you should follow if you want real, lasting success. Happy trails!
Examine
Are you ready to get your credit repair journey underway? You will need to get your credit reports. Your efforts must focus on all three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You can get your reports individually form each of the bureaus, but for ease of use and to facilitate your credit repair success I recommend that you get a nice user friendly tri-merged report. It will be easier to work with and save you time and frustration.
Doubt
When it is time to proofread your reports you need to adopt an attitude of doubt. No longer should you automatically accept what is in writing. Credit reports are the product of a flawed system prone to errors. Credit reporting errors can easily translate into dollars. Don’t be the victim of these costly mistakes. If you want credit repair success give yourself the benefit of the doubt; if an item does not look right, dispute it.
Dispute
If you are in a credit repair service you will not have to worry about this step, but if you decide to manage the dispute process yourself there are two rules. One, do it in writing; online disputes include fine print that can create a disadvantage if you need to re-dispute an item that was verified the first time. Two, keep it simple; the credit bureaus do not want to know your story. Keep your request as clear and minimalistic as possible.
Rebuild
If tough times have left you with no open accounts it’s time to rebuild. Given the current state of the credit markets your credit repair rebuilding efforts will probably need to utilize secure credit cards. Just do it. This will require a smallish investment, but it is worth it. Your credit scores are based on both the positive and the negative. While you work on cleaning up your report you must work on rebuilding your good credit.
Manage
Once you have a couple of secured credit cards open you need to manage them properly. A little misstep can send your credit scores into a tailspin. But don’t worry, it’s not hard. Just make sure to make your payments on time and keep your balances down. The ideal situation while you are in credit repair mode is to use only 20% of the available limit.
Budget
Don’t let the past repeat itself. Now is the time to make sure you have a grasp of your complete financial picture. Build yourself a budget. Get a pad of paper and write down every expense that you can think of. Make sure to include everything from the smallest daily outlay, like lunch, to the big ongoing expenses like rent. Once you have listed all of your expenses compare the final number with your take home pay. Make sure you are not living beyond your means.
Save
While you are analyzing your financial situation consider making room for a regular contribution to a savings account. A savings account will allow you to handle unexpected expenses without falling behind on your bills. This will insure that your credit repair progress continues without interruption. As your saving account grows you will also experience the wonderful feeling of confidence and stability.
Succeed
All you need to do now is to stay the course. As you persist in your dispute process with the credit bureaus you will see your credit report gradually transformed before your eyes. And as you continue to manage your new secured credit cards you will be amazed to see how your credit scores respond. And let’s not forget the wonderful feeling that comes from managing your finances properly and watching your savings account grow. Now you can join the millions of others who have discovered the fact that credit repair really works!
Copyright © 2009 Ian Webber. All Content. All Rights Reserved.
Ian Webber is an expert in consumer law and credit repair. Ian is a graduate of the London School of Economics and The University of Chicago where he earned his LLM. Ian consults with one of the leading online credit repair services and is currently based in Florida. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/the-perfect-credit-repair-roadmap-940197.html
Personal Budgets Help Consumers Plan Spending
May 27, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
There isn’t a successful, money-making company on earth that doesn’t produce and work within a budget. They do it not only because they must but also because budgets are the building blocks of financial management.
Individuals, however, are different. The U.S. Department of Commerce found in 2006 that the average American household spent more money than it took in by about 1 percent. Not only is this unsustainable for individuals, but it’s probably a good indicator that most Americans either refuse or don’t know how to stick to a personal budget.
Americans may not like budgets because they’re like diets: they both require discipline, and neither works if not followed. But both are tools that are necessary for a healthier lifestyle, whether financially or physically. If a diet tells you what you can eat, a budget tells you what you can spend.
So what is involved in creating and sticking to a simple, personal budget? It might be easier to think of a budget as a spending plan. Basically, that’s what it is. Rather than seeing the restrictions of a budget, see what a spending plan can allow you provide for yourself or your family. It’s as simple as keeping track of and paying attention to what comes in and what goes out.
A good first step in producing a workable personal budget is to start with your bills. It’s imperative to find out where your money is going and tracking expenses daily. Everyone has fixed expenses like mortgage payments or rent; transportation expenses like car payments, gasoline or public transit passes; utilities, food, insurance, etc. Beyond those fixed expenses, it’s good to keep receipts and determine how much other money you’re regularly spending.
After your fixed expenses have been categorized, it’s a good idea to plan for variable expenses like birthdays and holidays, clothing, vacations and entertainment. If you find that you don’t have enough money at month’s end to cover all the expenses, these variable costs are the first ones that need to be cut.
When you are finished with your expenses, move on to your income. Your income should always exceed your expenses. If not, you must choose between increasing your income or decreasing your expenses. Asking for a raise, finding a more lucrative job or taking a second job are good ideas to increase income. Alternatively, cutting expenses may be easier. That $3 cup of coffee every morning, if eliminated, could save $60 a month.
Ideally, if you make more money than you regularly spend, you should be saving some each month, part of which should go into an emergency or rainy-day fund, typically at least three months’ worth of expenses. The emergency fund, best kept in a savings account, will give you much more flexibility if you should happen to lose your job or experience unexpected expenses.
Just like Fortune 500 companies, individuals must understand how much money is coming in and how much is going out; otherwise, neither stands a chance of achieving crucial financial goals. You won’t have to worry about living off your credit cards or dodging phone calls from creditors. Through budgeting, learning and accepting limitations on your own income and spending habits, you can take control of your financial future.
Cash – A Great Budget Controller
May 27, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
Articles and books on personal finance will provide as many tips as possible in an effort to make at least a couple of them stick. This approach may convince readers to save for emergencies and pay out less than they bring in, but in some cases you can say to much without explaining anything. In this article we’ll focus on just one technique to improve your finances – paying in cash. Here’s how making cash-only purchases can help you to budget, save and invest. A Plastic Paradise With rapid increases in the use of plastic over hard currency, some people consider carrying cash old fashioned. To be fair, plastic is much sexier than a bit of coloured paper with a deceased president gazing into the great beyond. Some banks even allow you to customize the colour and graphics on your credit and debit cards. Debit and credit cards also offer the advantage of security. With them, you need a signature and/or a PIN number to access your funds. Cash is only protected by your ability to defend it should someone want to take it from you. Except for the odd country store, plastic is accepted in as many places as cash is. Yet cash is almost always the better choice for making a purchase. Here’s why: Overpaying One of the drawbacks of credit and debit cards is that they encourage you to spend more than you intend to by giving you easy access to more capital. With cash, spending more than you intend requires going to a bank or ATM, then returning to the store to complete your purchase. This provides time to reconsider whether your budget can handle the extra strain. Carrying only the cash you are prepared to spend on a given product can prevent you from ‘buying up’ and paying for features you don’t need. This works for minor items, but buying a boat or pickup truck requires more cash than you may be comfortable carrying on you. If a cheque can’t be used, a debit card is better than a credit card because you can only spend money you already have. Over-Shopping Cards won’t just lead you to pay too much for single purchases, they also encourage you to buy more items than you mean to. Stores build displays to make their wares appealing so that you will purchase more. In some cases a checklist is insufficient in preventing impulse buys. People tend to spend more with credit cards than with cash. One study found that people spend up to 18% more when using credit cards, and McDonald’s notes that average purchases rose from $4.50 to $7 when customers used plastic over cash. Only carrying enough cash to buy the things on your list is the best way to shop within your budget. If you take the time, you can find sales or inexpensive alternatives to your regular brands to make your cash go further. Cash Vs. Credit For the purpose of this article, cash means money you have already earned. Using your Visa for a cash advance does not solve the problem of using high-interest debt to cover your expenses. Cash has one clear advantage over credit cards: if you carry a balance on your card, or only make the minimum monthly payment, you will incur interest at a rate of 15% or more on your purchase. This means paying $15 or more for every $100 you spend. If you save enough cash for the same purchase, you give yourself the equivalent of a 15% discount by not using your card. Cash Vs. Debit If we just portrayed cash as a better alternative to credit cards, few would argue against us. In contrast, debit cards enjoy a protected status, despite ATM fees. A debit card can also trivialize purchases. Being a square of plastic, it is difficult to tell how much money is spent through your debit card. It becomes a matter of $2 here, $6 there and so on until you give up tracking how much you spend. It’s a shock when the monthly statement comes. With cash, you can monitor your funds as you spend. Conclusion Using a credit or debit card offers more security than cash in most cases. For large purchases, cash is often not an option and writing a check or getting a bank draft may be more trouble than it is worth. In addition, a properly used debit card can be a great alternative to cash instead of resulting in credit card problems. A credit card can also be a convenient tool, but it’s only a fair substitute for cash when your balance is paid in full at the end of each month. Otherwise, your reward for convenience is debt. If you tend to overspend, shopping with cash is one way to adhere to your budget and limit impulse buying.
FAQ about the credit score,credit report (whats my credit score)
May 26, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Bad Credit Help
This article is about questons like: the credit score and mortgage, credit score and loan, whats my credit score, how to check my credit score, etc.
1. Who provides the the credit report services?
There are 3 credit bureaus in the U.S. and they are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Equifax
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
(800) 685-1111
Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
(888) 397-3742
Trans Union
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 916-8800 or (800) 888-4213
2. Whats the info in the credit report?
(1). Personal information like name, SSN, date of birth, current address, previous addresses, employer, etc.
(2). Credit card, mortgage and loan information like credit card number, credit card status, open date, balance, credit line (credit limit), update date, minimum payment, records of the money return, etc.
(3). Inquiry: (a). Hard inquiry: It is the inquiry from the banks or credit card companies, authorized by you. This kind of inquiry has a negative impact on your credit score. (b). Soft inquiry: When the credit card companies wanna do some promotions, they can run a soft inquiry on your credit report. This type of inquiry has no negative impact on your credit score.
(4). Collection information.
(5). Public records. (bankruptcy, mortgage, frozen assets, decree, etc)
3. Who is interested in my credit report?
Banks and credit card companies, cell phone comapnies, insurance companies, employers, landlords.
4. How do the 3 credit bureaus get the info on my credit report?
You credit report info is provided by these: banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, collection companies, government, court.
5. How long do they keep the info in my credit report?
Usually, it is 7 years.
bankruptcy: 10 years.
>$75000′s work: forever.
criminal record: forever.
>$150,000′s life insurance: forever.
inquiry: 2 years.
6. How to get my credit report?
If you are rejected when applying for a credit card or loan, you will receive a letter. This letter will tell you how to get your free credit report.
You can also contact the credit bureaus directly.
7. What can I do if I find something wrong with my credit report?
You can dispute if you find something wrong in your credit report.
8. I did not find anything about the employers and insurance in my credit report, why?
It is possible that your employers or insurance companies do not provide any information to the credit bureaus.
9. How long does it take to update the credit report?
For the inquiry, it is the real-time update. The update speed of other records depends on the related corporations. Usually, the credit card records can be updated every month. If you are planning to get a housing loan or car loan, you’d better start to improve your credit score earlier. Because it takes time to update your credit report and to improve your credit score.
10. What should I do if my personal info is stolen?
1). Call your bank and credit card company.
2). Call the fraud department of the credit bureau to place a fraud alert on your credit file.
3). Close your stolen accounts.
4). File a police report.
5). File your complaint with the FTC.
11. Whats my credit score? (info about the credit score)
Currently, the most common credit score is the FICO credit score. It is calculated from the credit report. Because the 3 credit bureaus have different credit reports for you. Your credit score can be different for these 3 credit bureaus.
12. I can not find the credit score from my credit report, why?
You need to purchase your credit score. It is not free.
13. Whats a good credit score? ( loan credit score, credit score mortgage )
Usually, the credit score is between 350 and 850. You will have a better chance to get the best offer when applying for the loans if your credit score is very high. For the housing loan, you can get a good offer if your credit score is above 650. For the car loan, it is 720.
14. What affects my credit score?
Negative factors: bankrutcy, collection, default payment, late payment.
Credit history (the longer the better).
Open accounts with balance.
Credit usage (the best ratio of Balance/Credit Limit is 1-2%, >50% is negative)
Inquiry (Hard inquiry will have a negative impact on your credit score, especially the hard inquiry within 6 months)
15. How to improve my credit score?
Pay your bills on time.
By Shane Lee. Date: 05/25/2009.
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Debt Consolidation – Freedom From Debt Can Be Reality For You
May 26, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
To become debt free is the dream of many Americans who are caught under the pressure of mounting loans and credit card bills. Easy access to credit cards and the tendency to overspend result in us having a large amount of debt. This debt burden weighs on our minds and we desire to become debt free.
It is necessary for you to cut out excess spending, to avoid credit card usage except for emergencies, and to start following a monthly budget if you want to get your financial situation resolved. After you reduce your monthly expenses, there may be more money for your monthly credit card bill payments. You will gradually become debt free as you pay more on your credit card bills each month.
Once your financial plan is in place, you may still need advice on the best way to get rid of your high credit card bills and become debt free. Contact an online debt consolidation company to help you with this. You can complete a form on a website and obtain a free quote for the best debt solutions for your particular needs. The debt consolidation counselor will call you and discuss the programs that they have available.
The debt consolidation company will negotiate with your creditors for lower interest rates and reduced fees. Your credit accounts are then combined into one account with the debt consolidation company and you make one monthly payment to them. The debt consolidation company then pays your creditors. This helps you reduce your debt burden and improve your credit scores.
In some cases, you can take a debt consolidation loan in order to become debt free. All of your credit card account balances and unsecured loan account balances can be paid off by this loan. You will then make your monthly loan payments to the debt consolidation company. This loan will have a lower interest rate and the monthly payments will be affordable due to an extended payment term.
Another method of debt consolidation is debt settlement. With debt settlement, your debt counselor works with your creditors to obtain a settlement amount for each one of your accounts. The settlement amount is lower than your current balance and this will save you money. You will make monthly payments to the debt consolidation company and they will pay each one of your creditors until each account is paid in full. Debt consolidation counselors know how to negotiate with your creditors so it is good to let them contact your credit card companies.
After you have made your required monthly payments to the debt consolidation company for debt consolidation, a consolidation loan, or for debt settlement, you will be debt free. You will see your credit scores improve as you make your monthly payments on time and at the end of the consolidation program you will be free from the stress of your credit card bills and see a much higher credit score. You will want to continue to follow your financial plan each month so that you stay debt free, save money and keep your improving your credit scores. Start working on your credit card bills now so that you can become debt free as soon as possible.
MyCreditGroup: WHY CREDIT REPAIR ALONE DOESNT WORK
May 25, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Bad Credit Help
United States of America (Press Release) May 21 2009 — San Diego, Calif. – As the credit crunch continues to affect consumers across the country, hundreds of so-called “credit repair” and “debt settlement” companies have emerged, claiming that bad credit scores can simply be erased – or that mounting debt can disappear by negotiating a lower principal on accrued debt. But there’s one problem: Their promises are deceptive and illegal.
Marc Chase, founder of San Diego-based My Credit Group, advises consumers to avoid wasting time or money on credit repair companies that promote these kinds of tactics.
“Most credit repair organizations simply send the same letter over and over to credit bureaus, disputing everything negative on a consumer’s report,” said Chase. “It’s an attempt to overwhelm the credit bureaus so they will overlook fees, interest amounts and other debts – even those that are valid and legal.”
Quite simply, accurate and valid items on a credit report cannot be removed. Even if they could be eliminated, it would have a minimal – if any – positive impact on turning a credit profile around.
“However, while consumers can’t make their bad credit disappear altogether, they can improve their credit score by establishing good credit, learning to manage credit, when and how to pay the bills, how many cards to have and how many to close etc. Taking these steps will help offset the bad credit,” said Chase.
My Credit Group concentrates first on the accuracy of credit reports. Once a report is settled and legitimate, Chase and his team help clients counteract their negative credit history by opening new lines of positive credit. The company then identifies and reviews client debts. The process is wrapped up with an education program, called Fresh Start, which assists clients with budget and savings plans for future goals.
source:
“Most consumers don’t really understand how to properly manage credit and debt. That’s why our focus is on education,” explained Chase. “Our clients have the opportunity to take control of their credit. They learn what a well-rounded credit profile looks like, understand what went wrong and can prevent it from ever happening again.”
For more information about My Credit Group, call (800) 430-7494 or visit www.mycreditgroup.com
Based in San Marcos, California, MyCreditGroup is a nationally recognized team of professionals specializing in credit validation, debt settlement and identity theft protection. Since 2001, the company has provided assistance to tens of thousands of consumers nationwide, as well as large financial corporations including Bank of America, Chase Bank, Keller Williams and Wells Fargo. The U.S. Department of Defense has also utilized My Credit Group’s services to help Marines resolve their credit and debt issues. For more information, call (800) 430-7494 or visit www.mycreditgroup.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/mycreditgroup-why-credit-repair-alone-doesnt-work-932329.html
Bill Collectors and Old Debt Can Wreck Your Day Don’t Let Them
May 25, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Debt
The phone rings and there is a recorded message from a debt collector on the other end. Typically the recording will tell you that they are attempting to collect a debt and ask you to call back and reference a case number. You know you have perfect credit. You have no missed credit card payments and your loans are current. Why is a collection agency calling you?
Its a ploy by some debt collectors to squeeze out some money on debts that are years old. You may have had some trouble sometime in your past and now these collection agencies are unearthing old debts that are five to 10 years old.
A collection call on an old debt can be tricky to handle if you are not aware of your rights. If you handle it incorrectly, that old debt could become brand new again. Its important to understand that old unpaid debt cannot hurt you as badly as new unpaid debt. After seven years, the old debt will roll off your credit report and will no longer affect your FICO score. More importantly, if the debt is older than the statute of limitations in your state, the creditor or collection agency can not sue to recover, nor can they threaten to sue.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents a bill collector from threatening lawsuits or garnishments on debts that are older than your states statute of limitations. They can still dun you and ask you to pay the debt but they have no legal recourse to collect.
If the collection agencies can’t legally collect the debt, what’s the problem? The problem is that in some states, if you simply acknowledge that the debt is yours, the old debt can become new debt and the statute of limitations starts over again. Your credit report may also reflect this “new” debt and your FICO will take a nose dive.
The best way to handle a collection call for an old debt is to say as little as possible. Don’t agree to pay. Don’t acknowledge the debt. If it wasnt for the annoying phone calls that are going to keep coming, it would be best not to speak to the collection agency at all.
The time to stop the phone calls is before they begin. Under the law, a debt collector has to send you written notice advising who the debt is with and for how much. You have 30 days to respond. If this is in fact a debt that is older than the statute of limitations, send a letter disputing (not mine) the debt. The collection agency cannot contact you again until they can verify the debt and notify you. If they can’t prove it, you don’t owe it.
Another more direct approach is to use your right to send a cease and desist letter. Make it clear in your letter that you’re aware that the debt is “time-barred,” and you can’t be sued for the debt and you don’t want to hear from them again. Make certain that the debt is actually beyond the statute. The best way to check is with your State Attorney Generals office or consult with a consumer credit attorney



