People often find out they have an account with a collection agency in one of three ways: they start receiving phone calls from a debt collector, they receive a letter from a collection agency, or they discover the collection account on their credit report, often after having an application turned down.
How do you know who sent you to collections? The only way to find out is through the debt collector.
If you receive a phone call or letter from the collection agency, they’ll state or write the name of the company that sent your account to collections. But, if you simply discover the debt on your credit report, you’ll have to contact the collection agency to ask them the creditor they’re collecting for.
The phone number for the collection agency should be listed on your credit report, if not, you can use a search engine to find the contact number for the collection agency. Once you get in contact with the collection agency, they'll will likely need some personal information to access your account – a name, address, or social security number if you don’t have the account number the collection agency has for you. Then, you can find out more details about the debt.
Beware: once the collection agency has you on the phone, they will push to get you to pay or make a payment arrangement. Don’t acknowledge or take ownership the debt, because doing so could restart the statute of limitations on the debt, which could allow the collector to win a lawsuit against you.
Before you pay, get a written bill from the collector and confirmation of the debt’s validity before you even consider payment.
You can send a debt validation letter to the collection agency asking for proof that you owe the debt. This proof is supposed to include information about the original creditor that can help you figure out if the debt is legitimate. The debt collector can’t collect from you – that includes listing the debt on your credit report – until they send sufficient proof of the debt.
If the debt collection is an error, for example, because it was sent to the collection agency in error, find proof of payment and send copies to the original creditor, the collection agency, and the credit bureaus to have the debt removed from your credit report.
How do you know who sent you to collections? The only way to find out is through the debt collector.
If you receive a phone call or letter from the collection agency, they’ll state or write the name of the company that sent your account to collections. But, if you simply discover the debt on your credit report, you’ll have to contact the collection agency to ask them the creditor they’re collecting for.
The phone number for the collection agency should be listed on your credit report, if not, you can use a search engine to find the contact number for the collection agency. Once you get in contact with the collection agency, they'll will likely need some personal information to access your account – a name, address, or social security number if you don’t have the account number the collection agency has for you. Then, you can find out more details about the debt.
Beware: once the collection agency has you on the phone, they will push to get you to pay or make a payment arrangement. Don’t acknowledge or take ownership the debt, because doing so could restart the statute of limitations on the debt, which could allow the collector to win a lawsuit against you.
Before you pay, get a written bill from the collector and confirmation of the debt’s validity before you even consider payment.
You can send a debt validation letter to the collection agency asking for proof that you owe the debt. This proof is supposed to include information about the original creditor that can help you figure out if the debt is legitimate. The debt collector can’t collect from you – that includes listing the debt on your credit report – until they send sufficient proof of the debt.
If the debt collection is an error, for example, because it was sent to the collection agency in error, find proof of payment and send copies to the original creditor, the collection agency, and the credit bureaus to have the debt removed from your credit report.