Change of Debt Collector

by Threasa
(Fort Wayne)

After making an initial payment on a debt, I received a letter from a different debt collector for the same debt with addtitional fees added. I was never contacted by the first debt collector.

Am I obligated to pay through the first or the second debt collector? Am I obligated to pay the additional fees from the second debt collector if I've already begun making payments for a different stated amount?

Thank you for your assistance.

Comments for Change of Debt Collector

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May 13, 2010
 Change of debt collector
by: Mary

Thanks for submitting your debt collection question on our Q&A page.

I am not sure what is going on with your debt but I suspect that the debt was sold to the 2nd debt collector. If the 2nd debt collector did in fact purchase it, then you must deal with that collector, not the first one. However, you do have a legal right under the federal Fair Debt Collection Act to ask the second debt collector to provide you with written verification of the debt. Put your request in writing and specially ask that the debt collector also account for the additional fees it is trying to collect from you. Make a copy of your letter and send the original via certified mail with a return receipt requested.

If the debt collector does not respond to your request or if you do not agree with the amount that the collector says you owe, I suggest that you contact a local consumer law attorney with experience in debt collection cases. Find out how to get FREE or low cost legal advice about debt collection from a consumer law attorney here.

I would do the same if the collector does not provide you with an explanation of the additional fees it wants you to pay or if its explanation does not make sense to you.

To learn more about your debt collection rights so that you understand what a debt collector can and cannot do to collect money from you and the things you should avoid doing or saying when you are contacted by a collector so that you do not make your financial situation worse, I suggest that you purchase a copy of my book, Debt Collection Answers, which is available at https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/Stop-Debt-Collectors.html. You can read the first chapter of Debt Collection Answers online for free.

Please share what happens with your situation in the comments section for this question. We are very interested in hearing how this turns out for you, and your experience can help others who are struggling with debt collectors.

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