United Bureau Harrasssing Phone Calls Creates Angst Phone calls that say a family member needs to be reached Nationwide

When a 3rd party agency initially duns you, you promptly send a debt validation request letter certified mail return receipt requested to the agency's physical address. Chances are decent especially if it's a debt buyer, they won't vaidate and you will never hear from them again. Plus, unlike a cease communications letter that can antagonize the agency and creditor, the debt validation letter ceases all collection efforts including lawsuit until the agency successfully validates as long as it is sent within the initial 30 days of initial dunning letter. Sample debt validation letter below. It's concise and firm but not antagonistic either.

____________

To United bureau
From joe consumer
4/x/09
ref/file # ______

I dispute the validity of your claim concerning the alleged ABC Credit Account for x amount of dollars. I trust that this request for validation will be honored in full compliance with the FDCPA (section 809).

_________________________________

I HAVE ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO DEAL WITH LYING SCUMBAGS LIKE THIS.

SADLY THERE ARE DATABASES WHERE THEY AN ACCESS YOUR FAMILY INFORMATION.

YOU SCREEN THE CALL AND THEN YOU CALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBER AND SEE IF THEY ARE OK.

""I will pursue each subsequent phone call from your office with a $1,000 per incident penalty for Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations""

There is no such "per incident" penalty written into the FDCPA. Why do you continue to post this?

The FDCPA allows for statutory damages of UP TO $1000 - that's per LAWSUIT, not per violation.

The FDCPA also allows for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees.

Your "example letter" as written is incorrect and likely to be the cause of much laughter by any debt collector who reads it.

This will almost always work:

Step One:

Send them a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt stating:

Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting that you cease all communications with me about this alleged. This debt does not belong to me. This letter is being time stamped via Certified Mail and I can confirm receipt. I will pursue each subsequent phone call from your office with a $1,000 per incident penalty for Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations

Step Two:

Next time they call, read the following statement:

Pursuant to [your state] state law, this is to inform you that this phone call is being recorded. If you do not consent to being recorded, you need to terminate this call. Pursuant to [your state] state law, continuation of this phone call after officially being informed that it is being recorded implies consent to be recorded. This recording will be used to pursue Fair Debt Collection Practice Act violations in a court of law.

You can call the National Do Not Call Registry (888-382-1222) from your phone to get your number listed. Then the telemarketers have 30 (or is it 31?) days to add you to their database. The calls should cease then, and if they do not you supposedly can bring action against any offenders with the FTC.

As far as the collectioneers those bottom-feeding sub-human parasites who make their living off other peoples' misfortune now that's a different kettle of smelly rotten fish.

I understand you can send them a cease order by registered mail, I think. Not sure how that works.

Good luck, Pilgrim. Hope this helps.