You have the right to force the debt collector to prove you owe the money. Debt validation is your federal right granted under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). To request debt validation, you must send a written request to the debt collector within 30 days of being contacted by the collection agency.

What happens if you answer a debt collector?

If you continue to ignore communicating with the debt collector, they will likely file a collections lawsuit against you in court. If you are served with a lawsuit and ignore this court filing, the debt collection company will then be able to get a default judgment against you.

Is there such a thing as a legitimate debt collection agency?

Any legitimate collection agency will readily give you this information. The caller refers you back to the original creditor for information. A real collection agency knows something about your debt, or else will contact the original creditor themselves for information it doesn’t have.

What to do if you get a call from a collection agency?

A legitimate collection agency would have received that information from the creditor. Don’t discuss the debt with someone who calls out of the blue. Demand that the caller provide the legally required written notice first. Don’t make a payment you’re not sure you owe to get a collector off your back. Insist on verifying the debt claim.

Is there a problem with fake debt collectors?

But many Americans are confronted by a problem even scarier than aggressive debt collectors: aggressive fake debt collectors, who try to bully their targets into paying money they don’t owe. The FTC calls it the “phantom debt collection” scam.

How can I find out if someone is a debt collector?

Do a web search on the caller’s phone number. You may find complaints from other consumers that it belongs to a scam collection agency. Don’t give any personal data to someone who claims to be a debt collector. A legitimate collection agency would have received that information from the creditor.