What Is Sunrise Credit Services?

Sunrise Credit Services is an account receivable and collections agency that has been around since 1975. They are currently headquartered in Farmingdale, NY, and their sister companies include NetTel USA and Sunrise Capital Management.

Sunrise Credit Services typically provides 3rd-party collection services for retailers, banks, and other industries. The company has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2012 and has an A+ rating.

However, they only have one star in terms of customer satisfaction and over 150 customer complaints. Some of the complaints involve people’s experience with bad customer service or not enough information regarding their debt accounts.

Like most other collection agencies, Sunrise Credit Services is quick to report your account to the credit bureau and try to collect your debt without taking the time to understand and respect your rights as a consumer. If you want to know how to get rid of them and restore your credit, here’s what you need to know.

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection, these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

• Don’t panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

1. Know Your Rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) spells out the rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors. Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, the license number, and the state agency that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Sunrise Credit Services by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter, you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, Sunrise Credit Services purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Sunrise Collection Services NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone, they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Sunrise Collection Services.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps. 

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With A Pay For Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation. 

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say. 

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with. 

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If they accept the settlement you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with Sunrise Collection Services on the phone, consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome. 

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Then you can sit back and relax while the credit pros do all the work.

If you’d rather do it yourself, that’s okay, too.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies will take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If a debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector. 

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Free Yourself From Sunrise Collection Services

Debt collectors will not go away on their own. They will keep harassing you, and you might end up in court. Running away is not an option. 

Instead, take the initiative. Learn how to communicate with debt collectors and know your rights. You can control the process and the situation if you’re aware and proactive.

It’s not going to be a pleasant experience, but it will be a better experience if you’re in the driver’s seat!

The post How To Stop Sunrise Credit Services From Ruining Your Credit appeared first on FinMasters.

Debt collectors can be persistent. Some will even sue you. Your credit will take a beating.

This is a problem you need to face. Trying to ignore it or avoid it will not work.

Let’s look at some steps you can take to get Hunter Warfield off your credit report and out of your life.

What Is Hunter Warfield?

Hunter Warfield is a collections agency based out of Tampa, Florida. They specialize in revenue recovery and risk-mitigating services.

The company has been in business for 15 years. They are not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but they have a ‘B’ rating. 

What’s alarming is that the BBB has received 495 complaints about them in the past 3 years. Some of those complaints are from people stating the company has not stopped reporting a debt they don’t own to the major credit bureaus.

Other consumers say they’ve been receiving harassing phone calls from Hunter Warfield about debts they may owe.

Hunter Warfield specializes in collecting rent, commercial debt, funeral bills, medical debt, and credit card debt.

So let’s talk about how to get this company off your back so you can have some breathing room.

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection, these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

• Don’t panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

1. Know Your Rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) spells out the rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors. Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, the license number, and the state agency that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Hunter Warfield by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter, you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof. Remember, Hunter Warfield purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Hunter Warfield NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone, they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Hunter Warfield.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With A Pay For Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If they accept the settlement you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with Hunter Warfield on the phone, consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome.

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Then you can sit back and relax while the credit pros do all the work.

If you’d rather do it yourself, that’s okay, too.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies will take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If a debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Free Yourself From Hunter Warfield

Debt collectors will not go away on their own. They will keep harassing you, and you might end up in court. Running away is not an option.

Instead, take the initiative. Learn how to communicate with debt collectors and know your rights. You can control the process and the situation if you’re aware and proactive.

It’s not going to be a pleasant experience, but it will be a better experience if you’re in the driver’s seat!

The post Can You Remove Hunter Warfield From Your Credit Report and Your Life? appeared first on FinMasters.

Is Wakefield And Associates Real?

This is a valid question to ask if you’re never heard of this company before. It’s not uncommon for illegitimate debt collection companies to contact consumers and claim they owe a balance.

Wakefield and Associates is legitimate and has been in business since 1986. The company is headquartered in Aurora, Colorado with locations in Knoxville Tennessee, and has over 175 employees.

Although Wakefield and Associates has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, they are not accredited and have also had 377 complaints closed in the past 3 years.

The company have quite a few locations across the U.S. and may go by some of these names including:

• Wakefield and Associates Inc
• Wakefield and Associates Morgan Colorado
• Wakefield and Associates Colorado
• Wakefield and Associates Knoxville TN
• Wakefield and Associates Jefferson City MO

What Can I Do?

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

If you’re hearing from Wakefield and Associates – or any collection agency – there are things that you can (and should) do. There are also two things that you should not do:

• Don’t Panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

NOTE: These are DIY steps.
If you get lost along the way or don’t have time to work on this by yourself, you can get help from Credit Saint, our #1 recommended credit repair company.

1. Know Your Rights

The rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors are spelled out in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property, or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, license number, and the state agancy that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Wakefield and Associates by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, Wakefield and Associates purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Wakefield and Associates NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Wakefield and Associates.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With A Pay For Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is called a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If the settlement is accepted you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

The only major downside is that many debt collection agencies may push back against this idea or say they don’t do it.

It’s best to get the company to agree in writing so they don’t go back on their word.

In recent years, people have had some luck with getting Wakefield and Associates to arrange a phone call to discuss pay for delete agreement, but it seems this company shies away from setting up terms in writing.

It’s worth a try but there are no guarantees.

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with Wakefield and Associates Inc on the phone, you can always consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome.

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Wakefield And Associates Lawsuit

If you’re wondering does Wakefield and Associates have a right to sue me, the answer is yes. If you fail to pay back a debt collection company like Wakefield and Associates, there is a chance you could get sued.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but it’s a harsh reality when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that Wakefield and Associates Inc is not going to go away on its own. It can be draining to receive constant calls from a debt collector, but you can fight back and possibly even get the negative mark removed from your credit.

The key is to know your rights and utilize the tools and resources available to you for negotiation. If you’re ready to get rid of Wakefield and Associates once and for all, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The post How To Get Wakefield And Associates Off Your Credit Report appeared first on FinMasters.

What Is Credence Resource Management?

This may be your first question when a supposed debt collector starts calling you out of the blue. It may or may not put your mind at ease to know that Credence Resource Management is a legitimate company.

They’ve been in business since 2013 and have an accredited B rating with the Better Business Bureau. Credence Resource Management is based in Dallas, Texas, and specializes in collecting debts for healthcare, telecommunication, insurance, utility service, and retail accounts.

They have a working telephone number and multiple forms of contact listed on their website.

In the past 3 years, they’ve received over 400 complaints on their BBB listing, which should definitely raise some red flags.

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

If you’re hearing from Credence Resource Management – or any collection agency – there are things that you can (and should) do. There are also two things that you should not do:

• Don’t Panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

NOTE: These are DIY steps.
If you get lost along the way or don’t have time to work on this by yourself, you can get help from Credit Saint, our #1 recommended credit repair company.

1. Know Your Rights

The rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors are spelled out in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property, or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, license number, and the state agancy that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Credence Resource Management by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, Credence Resource Management purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Credence Resource Management NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Credence Resource Management.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With a Pay for Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is called a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If the settlement is accepted you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Credence Resource Management Scams

While I did just explain how Credence Resource Management is a legitimate company, this still doesn’t mean consumers are safe from a Credence Resource Management scam.

It’s not uncommon for debt collection scammers to come out of the woodwork and claim they represent a well-known company.

It’s important to make sure you’re talking to an actual representative from Credence Resource Management if you are trying to get more information about the debt they say you owe.

I added their contact information below for reference.

17000 Dallas Parkway #204
Dallas, TX 75248

Toll-free numbers

• Customer care – (855) 880-4791
• Disputes and Complaints – (855) 880-4792

There have also been situations where Credit Resource Management called a consumer to collect a debt that wasn’t theirs. There have been claims that Credit Resource Management doesn’t do their due diligence when initially validating a person’s debt.

Instead, they continue making calls and pressuring consumers to pay when the debt may not even be valid.

If you’re pretty sure you don’t owe the debt this company is calling you about, be sure to call the original creditor to check and confirm.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies will take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If the debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if a debt collector sues you to make sure you take all the right steps.

Get Rid Of Credence Resource Management

You’ll need to be proactive in clearing the debt and getting the collection account removed from your credit report. The collection agency will not go away and they will not offer you a good deal. If you want to resolve the situation, take the initiative and use the steps above!

FAQs:

The post How To Escape Credence Resource Management and Restore Your Credit appeared first on FinMasters.

Dealing with debt collectors probably gives you the same feeling you get when you’re about to go to the dentist. Like going to the dentist, things will only get worse if you avoid dealing with the problem!

Debt collection companies like AFNI tend to use aggressive, intimidating, and sometimes even illegal tactics to get you to repay a balance.

Let’s look at how you can get AFNI Collections off your credit report and out of your life.

Is AFNI Collections A Real Company?

Maybe you’ve received a letter or phone call from someone claiming to represent AFNI and you’ve wondered if it’s a scam.

You have every right to question someone who’s calling you out of the blue about a debt you owe when you don’t recall doing any business with them previously.

AFNI Collections is a legitimate company that has been around since 1936. It became incorporated in1965 and is headquartered in Bloomington, IL. AFNI Inc is accredited with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

Unlike many other companies, AFNI has a professional-looking website where they answer common questions and encourage consumers to learn about their rights when dealing with a collection agency.

Still, AFNI Collections has one goal: to get you to make payments on your debt to settle your account. They will contact you regularly until you do something about it. They could even sue you, or resell your debt to a collector who will take legal action.

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

If you’re hearing from AFNI Collections – or any collection agency – there are things that you can (and should) do. There are also two things that you should not do:

• Don’t panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

1. Know Your Rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) spells out the rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors. Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property, or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, license number, and the state agancy that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to AFNI Collections by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, AFNI Collections purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from AFNI Collections NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to AFNI Collections.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With A Pay For Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If they accept the settlement you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with AFNI Collections on the phone, consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome.

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Then you can sit back and relax while the credit pros do all the work.

If you’d rather do it yourself, that’s okay, too.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies will take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If a debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Free Yourself From AFNI Collections

Debt collectors will not go away on their own. They will keep harassing you, and you might end up in court. Running away is not an option.

Instead, take the initiative. Learn how to communicate with debt collectors and know your rights. You can control the process and the situation if you’re aware and proactive.

It’s not going to be a pleasant experience, but it will be a better experience if you’re in the driver’s seat!

The post Steps To Take When Dealing With AFNI Collections appeared first on FinMasters.

Debt collectors are hard to deal with, and Reliant Capital Solutions is no exception. If this company has shown up on your credit report, your credit score has likely dropped by quite a few points. If it hasn’t yet, it will soon.

When a debt collector comes after you there are two problems to deal with.

• You have to resolve the debt. Collectors can make your life miserable and some will even sue you.
• You have to take care of your credit. Collection accounts will hammer your credit score and they will do it quickly.

The steps in this article will help you achieve both of those goals.

So how can you clear things up with your credit, stop Reliant Capital Solutions from calling, and remove them from your report?

In this article, I’ll explain how to do all this and more but first, let’s learn about what kind of company we’re dealing with.

Is Reliant Capital Solutions Legit?

Whenever someone contacts you about owing them money you have to verify that the collector is legitimate.

In this case, Reliant Capital Solutions, LLC is a legitimate 3rd party debt collection company and they’re headquartered in Gahanna, Ohio. The company’s file with the Better Business Bureau started in 2008 and they have an A+ rating.

The company uses multiple different phone numbers, but their main number and address are below:

(866) 837-5096
670 Cross Pointe Rd
Gahanna, OH 43230

Reliant Capital Solutions and Student Loans

Reliant Capital Solutions has received a total of 56 complaints on their BBB profile in the last 3 years. A few of those are related to student loan debt that they attempted to collect from borrowers.

When your federal student loans are in default, your loan servicer may place the debt with a company like Reliant Capital Solutions LLC. This company also deals with private student lenders and with universities.

You can see on their website that they’ve worked with schools like West Virginia University, The University of Mississippi, and Purdue University to help them collect student debt payments.

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

If you’re hearing from Reliant Capital Solutions – or any collection agency – there are things that you can (and should) do. There are also two things that you should not do:

• Don’t panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

1. Know Your Rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) spells out the rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors. Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property, or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, license number, and the state agancy that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Reliant Capital Solutions by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, Reliant Capital Solutions purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Reliant Capital Solutions NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Reliant Capital Solutions.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With A Pay For Delete Agreement

While occasionally the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If that’s the case, a settlement is one way to resolve the situation.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the collection agency representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If they accept the settlement you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with CCS on the phone, consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome.

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Then you can sit back and relax while the credit pros do all the work.

If you’d rather do it yourself, that’s okay, too.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies can take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If a debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Bottom Line

If Reliant Capital Solutions has shown up on your credit report, you aren’t out of options or relief. Use your rights as a consumer to make sure the debt is really yours, stop the harassment, and resolve your debt.

Remember, companies like Reliant Capital Solutions will not go away on their own. To avoid situations where a debt collector could try to sue you or garnish your wages, be proactive and stop them before things get to this point.

The post How To Stop Reliant Capital Solutions And Repair Your Credit appeared first on FinMasters.

First, resolving your debt with Transworld Systems is crucial; their methods can be unrelenting and may lead to legal action. Second, you need to safeguard your credit score, as collection accounts can significantly damage it.

You can resolve the debt and protect your credit. Let’s look at how.

Is Transworld Systems Inc. Legitimate?

The first question you may ask yourself when you receive a call or letter in the mail from this company is ‘is Transworld Systems legitimate?’ There are debt collection scams out there. It’s important to always do your due diligence before you talk to a company or send them any money.

Transworld Systems Incorporated (TSI) is a legitimate debt collection company. They have been around since 1970 and have over 600 employees.

The company is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau but they do have a ‘B’ rating on their profile.

They collected $725 million for their clients in 2019 alone and have 29 service locations across the country.

What Kind Of Company Is Transworld Systems (TSI)?

Transworld Systems Incorporated is one of the largest debt collection agencies. Creditors hire them to collect debts or sell them debts that they are unable to collect.

If your debt has been sent to them, they will contact you either by phone or mail to attempt to collect the debt.

The company participates in a debt collection tactic called skip tracing in an effort to locate the whereabouts of debtors who have relocated or are simply not answering their calls or letters.

There have been reports of them taking aggressive measures to collect debt like making daily calls for several weeks straight along with sending wage garnishment letters to debtors.

Transworld Systems Incorporated is a challenging company to deal with, but you can get them off your credit report and out of your life.

Who Does Transworld Systems Collect For

Transworld Systems collects for various financial organizations, state and federal government organizations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, Fortune 100 corporations, and small and medium businesses. They also provide B2B commercial collections.

Need Cash for Holiday Shopping? Personal Loans may offer a solution.

See which loans you prequalify for by answering a few questions. It only takes two minutes and has no impact on your credit score.

Get Started

Here’s What You Can Do

New Federal debt collection regulations took effect on Nov. 30, 2021. The new rules will have a far-reaching impact on the debt collection industry. If you have delinquent debts or accounts in collection these rules will affect you.

Learn more about Regulation F and what will it mean for consumers with debts.

If you’re hearing from Transworld Systems – or any collection agency – there are things that you can (and should) do. There are also two things that you should not do:

• Don’t panic. It won’t help.
• Don’t ignore the situation. That won’t help either. They won’t go away.

That’s what you shouldn’t do, but what should you do?

Here’s where to start.

1. Know Your Rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) spells out the rights of debtors and the obligations of debt collectors. Here are some key points.

• A debt collector cannot call you before 8AM or after 9PM.
• A debt collector cannot call your place of employment.
• If you have a lawyer, the collector must communicate with your lawyer.
• A debt collector may not communicate with your friends or family members or tell them about your debts.
• Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property, or use profane language.
• Debt collectors must identify themselves and the company they represent. They cannot claim to be law enforcement or other officials.
• A debt collector cannot threaten you with imprisonment or seizure of assets.

For a full review of your rights under the FDCPA see this summary from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

If you believe that a debt collector is violating the rules, you can report them to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state’s attorney general.

2. Validate and Verify the Debt With Transworld Systems

Under the new regulations that came into effect on Nov. 30, 2021, debt collectors must send you a Notice of Debt within 5 days of their first contact with you. This notice must contain much more information than the notices that collectors sent under prior rules.

If the notice is incomplete, it is invalid, and the debt isn’t collectible. That makes it important to know what’s required.

A valid Notice of Debt must contain an itemization date. This can be one of five different dates.

• The date of the last statement or invoice provided to the consumer by the creditor.
• The charge-off date.
• The date of the last payment applied to the debt.
• The date of the transaction that gave rise to the debt.
• The judgment date, if there is court judgment on the debt.

This date will help you establish whether the Statute of Limitations on the debt has expired and when it will drop off your credit report.

The Notice of Debt must also contain extensive information about the debt:

• The debt collector’s name and mailing address.
• The consumer’s full name and mailing address.
• If the debt is related to a financial product (like a loan or credit card), the notice must contain the name of the creditor to whom the debt was owed on the itemization date.
• The account number associated with the debt.
• The name of the creditor to which the debt is currently owed.
• The amount of the current debt and an itemized list of any payments made and added fees, interest, or other charges.

The Notice of Debt must contain a statement advising you of your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCPA), including a statement that you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the letter.

The notice must also contain a returnable form allowing you to declare that you are disputing the debt and allowing you to select one of three reasons for a dispute:

• This is not my debt.
• The amount is wrong.
• Other (you will need to supply additional information.)

The CFPB has published a sample Notice of Debt that will help you determine whether the one you receive is complete.

Why It’s Important

Many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new regulations came into effect will not have the required information. They may not be able to get it from the original creditor. They may still try to bluff or intimidate you into paying them or admitting that the debt is yours.

If you receive a Notice of Debt, examine it in detail to make sure it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, inform the collector that you will not discuss the debt until you receive a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.

Always Dispute the Debt

If you do not dispute the debt within 30 days, it is presumed valid. Always dispute debts held by collection companies.

If you are using a dispute or debt validation letter template, be sure that the template is designed for notices received after the implementation of Regulation F on Nov. 20, 2021. Much of the information that debtors used to ask for is now required in the Notice of Debt.

Send the debt collector a certified letter addressing these issues.

• Ask for documentation that verifies that you owe the debt, such as a copy of the original contract.
• Ask whether the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. The collector doesn’t have to tell you, but they can’t lie. If they won’t say, the statute of limitations may have expired.
• Ask whether the agency is licensed to collect debt in your state. Again, the collector is not allowed to lie. You can ask for the date of the license, license number, and the state agancy that issued the license as well.
• A copy of the last billing statement sent by the original creditor.

Send the letter to Transworld Systems by certified mail.

Once you receive the debt validation letter you have 30 days to send your debt dispute letter.

Remember that even if you know the debt is yours, the more important issue is whether they know it’s yours.

Because guess what?

If they can’t prove it’s yours, they can’t collect it or report it to the credit bureaus.

They might not be able to come up with that proof.  Remember, Transworld Systems purchased your debt, in bulk with a bunch of other debt, from the original creditor.

Who knows what was lost in the shuffle?

The onus is on them to provide proof. If they can’t, they’re required by law to remove it from your credit report.

Remember the Statute of Limitations

Always check the date of the debt against the statute of limitations in your state. If the statute of limitations has expired, the collector cannot pursue legal action against you.

The statute of limitations clock begins on the date when the debt was first reported as delinquent.

Remember that making a payment or acknowledging that the debt is yours can restart the statute of limitations.

The expiry of the statute of limitations will not remove an account from your credit record. If the statute of limitations has expired or will expire soon there’s a good chance that the seven-year period of appearance on your credit record is also nearly up.

If the statute of limitations is nearly up your best bet might be to just wait it out.

3. Stop Calls from Transworld Systems NOW

Before Nov. 20, 2021, you could get as many as 15 calls per day from a debt collector, according to a Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

That’s way too many.

That has changed. Regulation F places strict limits on collection calls.

• A debt collector cannot call you more than seven times within seven consecutive days.
• If a debt collector speaks to you on the phone they must wait seven days before calling again.

Debt collectors can now contact you by email and text message as well, but you can tell them how they are permitted to contact you and when.

You can stop all communication from a debt collector.

Follow these simple steps to stop the calls.

1. Write a “stop contact” or “cease” letter telling them to stop contacting you.
2. Make a copy for yourself and mail the original to Transworld Systems.
3. To prove you sent the letter, send it by certified mail with “return receipt requested.”

Make sure you follow these exact steps.

If you do, the National Consumer Law Center states, “the collector can only acknowledge the letter and notify you about legal steps the collector may take.”

When you stop the phone calls, you get some breathing room. Remember that you still owe the debt, and the collector can take legal action.

Then you can tackle the next step.

4. Contest the Debt With the Credit Bureaus

If you believe that you do not owe the debt or that the collection agency has failed to validate the debt, you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You will need to dispute the account separately with each credit bureau.

Credit Reporting Bureau Mailing Addresses

You can also dispute it online:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

The credit bureau must investigate and verify your debt. If they cannot, they must remove it from your credit record.

Remember that even if the debt is removed from your credit record, the collection agency can still pursue collection efforts.

Get Your FREE Credit Dispute Letter Template

Get our winning dispute letter, plus free tips to help you boost your credit.

Download Now!

5. Settle With Transworld Systems With a Pay for Delete Agreement

While occasionally, the collection debt isn’t yours, most of the time, it is. If Transworld Systems validates your debt, a pay for delete is one way to settle with them. If you offer to pay a part of your debt, they may agree to remove it from your credit report.

Remember that debt collectors pay, on average, 4 cents for every dollar of debt that they buy. That gives you room to negotiate. A collector can accept less than you owe and still make a profit.

An article from U.S. News & World Report found that collection agencies will settle for between 40-60% of the balance – which could mean thousands of dollars saved.

You might offer 10% of your balance to see what they say.

They’ll probably ask for more, but don’t let them push you around. With a little negotiation, you can reach an agreement you’re comfortable with.

Pay for Delete

A collection agency may agree to remove your account from your credit record if you settle your debt. This is a “pay for delete” arrangement.

When you discuss a settlement, ask the Transworld Systems’ representative if they will delete your record if you pay. Send a formal “pay for delete letter” to confirm the arrangement and ask for a written commitment.

Remember that you cannot compel a credit bureau to remove a legitimate account from your record. It will be recorded as paid, but it may remain on your credit report for seven years from the date when the account first became delinquent.

A pay-for-delete arrangement is a gamble. It may not work, but it’s worth trying. If they accept the settlement you will no longer have to deal with the collection agency, and that’s a big plus.

Get Your FREE Pay for Delete Letter Template

After much testing, we have put written a great pay to delete letter you can use to get started.

Download Now!

Hire A Credit Repair Company

If you don’t want to go through all the trouble of writing letters and negotiating with Transworld Systems on the phone, consider hiring a credit repair company to help.

A credit repair company is equipped to deal with aggressive debt collectors to help you get the best possible outcome.

The credit repair industry has earned a terrible reputation, and you’ll have to look out for disreputable companies and credit repair scams. There are still some companies that are legitimate and helpful.

Choosing to work with an expert sooner rather than later can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Get Professional Help

We analyzed 21 credit repair companies based on price, service, and results, and picked our top three choices.

Best Credit Repair Companies

Then you can sit back and relax while the credit pros do all the work.

If you’d rather do it yourself, that’s okay, too.

What If They Sue?

Collection agencies will take you to court, sometimes over quite small amounts. If a debt collector sues you, don’t ignore the case.

If you don’t respond, the judge will probably issue a summary judgment against you. You will be ordered to repay the debt. If you don’t, your wages could be garnished. In some states, your assets could be seized.

Not all companies will exercise their right to file a lawsuit against you, but a lawsuit is always a possibility when dealing with an aggressive debt collector.

Important! Read up on what to do if you get sued by a debt collector to make sure you take all the right steps.

Free Yourself From Transworld Systems Incorporated (TSI)

Debt collectors will not go away on their own. They will keep harassing you, and you might end up in court. Running away is not an option.

Instead, take the initiative. Learn how to communicate with debt collectors and know your rights. You can control the process and the situation if you’re aware and proactive.

It’s not going to be a pleasant experience, but it will be a better experience if you’re in the driver’s seat!

The post How To Remove Transworld Systems From Your Credit Report appeared first on FinMasters.

It’s important to be mindful of where you get advice from, especially when it comes to your finances. The internet connects us with thousands of financial experts and their resources in just minutes. But how do you know who to listen to?

One popular personal finance resource is Tiffany Aliche, known as the Budgetnista, and her financial literacy programs. In this post, we’ll discuss why you may want to consider taking your finances to the next level with the Live Richer Academy and break down how the program works.

Let’s start by exploring the person behind the brand and the initiative to live a richer life.

Who is The Budgetnista?

Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista, seemed to start out on the right path financially.

In 2009, she purchased her first car in cash at the age of 22. She even went on to save $40,000 in just 2.5 years.

Hitting rock bottom financially didn’t leave Tiffany feeling completely hopeless. Instead, she realized that she had the financial education to get back on her feet.

She grew up in a household where her parents were always talking about money and including the whole family in regular household budget meetings.

The Budgetnista is dedicated to helping women live fuller and richer lives through financial education.

Tiffany used this experience and her love for teaching to launch, The Budgetnista, a financial education site and resource geared toward helping women live a fuller, richer life.

Tiffany has gone on to help over 800,000 women worldwide collectively save more than $100 million and pay off over $75 million in debt.

She has written multiple books, including; Live Richer Challenge Savings Edition, Live Richer Challenge Credit Edition, Live Richer Challenge Net Worth Edition, The One Week Budget, Live Richer Homebuying Edition, and the Live Richer Challenge.

She does have a small presence on YouTube, unlike the Credit Repair star Brandon Weaver who we also highly recommend.

Most of Tiffany’s books are available on Amazon. They may be included in your membership or can be accessed for free on her websites.

It’s my greatest desire to see people live richer lives and I truly believe that one of the most effective ways to do so is to provide access to the tools and resources they need

Tiffany Aliche

The Live Richer Academy Overview

#Livericher is a movement coined by The Budgetnista. Her goal is to make financial education obtainable and easy to understand.

The Live Richer Challenge is a free challenge designed to help women get on the right path when it comes to reaching financial goals.

If you want to get even more results and take your financial education to the next level, we highly recommend you consider joining the Live Richer Academy.  (We have no affiliation.)

The Live Richer Academy is an online program that includes live sessions, pre-recorded classes, easy tasks, and worksheets to help you equip yourself to manage money well and reach important financial milestones long-term.

Tiffany has branded her students as her “Dreamcatchers”.

Dreamcatchers get access to over 50 top financial experts. They will walk you through every stage of your journey and help you live richer.

You can go through the course at your own pace and cover lessons about mindset, financial fundamentals, paying off debt, increasing your credit score, investing and estate planning, and more.

Members also get access to a private Facebook group to interact with other women, share tips, get advice, and support each other.

The Live Richer Academy Facebook group currently has over 27,000 members.

If you need support, The Budgetnista has a full team she refers to as the “Unicorn Squad” to provide program and technical guidance.

Live Richer Academy Reviews

The Budgetnista’s site is overflowing with reviews and praise about her programs.

Past and current students say that they’ve been able to rebuild their credit, save for a down payment on a home, increase emergency savings, and even start helping their family as well.

Be Careful!
The Live Richer Academy Reviews are clear that this is not a get-rich scheme or a quick fix to all of your financial problems. The Live Richer Academy is focused on teaching you budgeting and personal finance skills that can be used for a lifetime.

One of the Live Richer Academy reviews that stood out a lot is from a woman named Brandy who had been able to reach several financial milestones as a result of joining the academy.

I purchased my first home, decreased my student loans & paid off my credit card debt with the help of the Live Richer Academy.

Brandy

By applying what Tiffany and other financial experts in the program teach, she’s been able to:

• Purchase her first home.
• Get promoted and significantly increase your income.
• Decrease her student loan balance.
• Pay off her car.
• Pay off all credit card debt.
• Maintain an 800+ credit score.
• Pay for her daughter’s private school tuition.
• Budget and save for vacations without incurring any debt.
• Purchase life and disability insurance.
• Get her estate planning in order.

What Does The Live Richer Academy Cost?

The Live Richer Academy is an affordable membership program that is priced to fit anyone’s budget.

• Monthly Membership: $29.99
• 6-Month Membership (Get 1 Month Free): $149.95
• Annual Membership (Get 2 Months Free): $299.90

You can cancel at any time and will get a 30-day money-back guarantee with a 6-month or annual membership.

The Live Richer Challenge is free and includes much more limited access to ways to improve your finances. If you find these resources effective, we’d recommend you consider signing up for the Live Richer Academy monthly membership.

Who Shouldn’t Take the Budgetnista’s Advice?

Is there anyone who isn’t a great fit for Tiffany Aliche’s teachings?

This is a tough one.  From the outside, it may appear that Tiffany focuses on introductory personal finance topics.

This is true.  She teaches a lot of beginner topics such as:

• How to build your credit score
• How to create a budget
• Paying off debt and student loans

But in her Live Richer Academy, she also offers a ton of value for people at any stage of their financial life.

She includes some pretty advanced topics like:

• Mastering your taxes
• Getting paid as a speaker
• Getting funding/grants for non-profits
• and getting your name or brand in the press

As you can see, there’s something for everyone.

My only word of caution would be to men.  While men are present in Tiffany’s Facebook groups and have bought her courses, they are definitely in the minority, since Tiffany focuses her message predominantly on women.

That being said, men are absolutely welcome, but they may feel just a little bit outnumbered.

How To Cancel Live Richer Academy

You can cancel your membership at any time by contacting Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche through their website or email.

Cancellations will go into effect immediately and you will not be billed again, however, you will not receive a refund on any money already paid.

Is There a Catch?

What you see is what you get with the Live Richer Academy. It’s a self-paced program that you can work through on your own time.

In order to get results, you have to do the work and take the action steps recommended by the professionals.

There’s no way around putting in the time and effort to improve your finances.

Quick Tip:
Don’t expect to complete the Bugetnista’s Live Richer Academy overnight. Pace yourself and allow the process to work over time.

The only potential downside is the Live Richer Academy is not open for enrollment year-round.

Enrollment opportunities occur during certain times of the year so if you’re interested in the program, you’ll want to jump on the opportunity.

Who Should Join The Live Richer Challenge?

If you’re looking for community, expert advice, and accountability when it comes to reaching your financial goals, The Live Richer Academy is one of our top choices.

They have dozens of personal finance experts on hand to give advice and keep you accountable for the program.

The investment is small but it could make a huge impact on your life.

Many graduates report that they were able to stop living paycheck to paycheck, improve their credit score, and reach major goals like starting a business or maxing out their retirement savings.

Conclusion – We Heart Tiffany Aliche

In conclusion, can you trust Tiffany Aliche?

Our definitive answer is “Yes!!”

Tiffany has proven her expertise and been featured on sites like MSNBC, The New York Times, Forbes, as well as several television programs to share actionable tips people can use to improve their finances.

Most importantly, she has a passion for personal finance and teaching so members of the Live Richer Academy are certainly in good hands.

Learn more about the academy here and be sure to check out some of the inspiring testimonials from past and current members.

The post Can You Trust the Budgetnista and Her Live Richer Academy? appeared first on FinMasters.