Now that I am able, I would like to pay the debts I have accrued over the past few years. When confronted with debt collectors, what is the best way to deal with them so that this positively impacts my credit report? [more inside]
posted by Loto on Oct 15, 2009 - 12 answers

I have gotten two collection letters from law firms, one of which I found out is suing me. I am with a debt settlement firm and I would like to settle but they will not talk with my debt settlement firm. What are my options? I do not want to go to court and would like to settle these debts. One is for $9K and another for $1.7K
posted by WRivera125 on Oct 15, 2009 - 4 answers

For the third time now I've discovered that I've been improperly served a summons, and for the second time I've had a default judgment entered against me because I was unaware of the court date. It seems ridiculously difficult to take action against service processors for this behavior as it's your word against their affidavit and there are no regulatory agencies governing them. Are there legal avenues that I'm not aware of? [more inside]
posted by scharpy on Jun 9, 2009 - 11 answers

I need help writing a strong letter to a collections company trying to collect a debt that isn't mine. [more inside]
posted by Jenesta on Apr 16, 2009 - 10 answers

I don't know anything about dealing with collection agencies. I have medical debt from spring/summer 2008 totalling around $2500, from about 7 different billers (hospital, ambulance, doctors). Some of it has gone to collection. I do not have $2500. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 3, 2009 - 12 answers

Apparently, I owe a blockbuster debt of $38 to a collection agency. I feel I've been screwed but that is irrelevant. I just want to pay the debt and never do business there again. The problem: The agency called last month when I was traveling, I didn't want to deal with it then, and now I've lost their number. How can I find out what collection agency they sent me account to and pay this debt off? Note: I have asked at the store and the employee told me, "the collection agency will call you back"...
posted by mikeo2 on Jan 14, 2009 - 9 answers

Should I dispute the adverse item on my credit report or just pay it off? Also, will a balance transfer help or hurt me? [more inside]
posted by desjardins on Aug 25, 2008 - 13 answers

Do debt collectors have to pay a fee if they call you after you have had an attorney contact them? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 24, 2008 - 5 answers

Has anyone used a collections agency to collect on a judgment from small claims court? [more inside]
posted by bove on Dec 29, 2007 - 5 answers

What kind of mark down do debt collection agencies get on bad private party debt when they buy it? [more inside]
posted by 517 on Nov 14, 2007 - 9 answers

A sheriff visited a former address of mine earlier today to serve documents. I'm not sure what these documents were. What is my best course of action other than hiring a lawyer in terms of getting the scoop? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 10, 2007 - 5 answers

Utility Credit Issue. At the end of March I terminated a natural gas account. I've been sent to a collection agency. The problem? Well, a couple. Let's start with I paid it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 1, 2007 - 6 answers

An old debt has found it's way back to me. Should I pay it? If not, is there an optimal strategy for not paying it? [more inside]
posted by poppo on Mar 26, 2007 - 32 answers

I have a question about bill collectors! [more inside]
posted by baklavabaklava on Oct 26, 2006 - 13 answers

I have a collections agency calling my phone number in an attempt to get in touch with my next-door neighbor. I've asked them twice to stop calling me; they keep apologizing but don't seem concerned. I was just tipped off that this is a new game collections agents are playing: call nearby and have the neighbors do a little vigilante justice to get to the target. My question: do all the calls I've received fall under Do Not Call Registry protection? [more inside]
posted by werty on Jun 6, 2004 - 12 answers

My phone company has not sent me an invoice for almost three years. Now they are shutting my phone off, and I don't think it is fair. What should I do? (more details inside) [more inside]
posted by tlong on May 17, 2004 - 32 answers