Why are collection agencies so stupid?

Question

All were trying to do is pay off my husbands debt. Most of it is like 5 years old and they obviously dont want to get paid very badly. I have agreed to pay the settlement amount for 2 places and both refuse to send a settlement letter and keep going on about how if I dont pay today the settlement is off the table, which I am well aware is not true. All I want is a dam letter saying thats what they will accept as a settlement and they wont do it even though it means im not paying them. They dont have to much trouble sending all the letter saying we owe something. And another place that obviously sends they're calls to india isnt getting paid bc they dont know how to look up an account. Its right there on his report and they verified it when it was disputed but they say we dont even owe anything bc they dont know how to look it up. How am I supposed to get these accounts resolved when I cant talk to anyone but foreigners and morons who wont send a simple settlement letter?

Answer 1

You can probably get a lawyer to send them a letter. Do not pay them anything until they accept your conditions. You have to make a deal so that they remove all derogatory info from the credit reports.  

Answer 2

I will definitely not give them a dime if they don't send you those letters. Make sure part of your settlement is to have those debts removed from your credit record otherwise you are paying them for nothing.

Two things you should know. 1) the debts will automatically fall off your credit report after 7 yrs by law. Bankcruptcy 10 yrs.

2) Whether you pay it or not, it will still stay on your record as paid collection or paid later, which doesn't help your score. Unless of course part of the settlement is to have it removed.

Answer 3

First....DO NOT tell the debt collectors that you are attempting to clear your credit because you are applying for a new mortgage....They LOVE to hear things like this because this information gives them the power to extort a maximum settlement out of you.

You need to be really careful in paying old debts like this....making payments on old debts resets the statute of limitations in most states and if you don’t get a carefully worded agreement from them FIRST, they might respond to your payments by taking you to court and attempting to get a judgement against you.

Send them a certified letter + return receipt with the following wording:

This is an offer to settle this matter. This is not an acknowledgment of this alleged debt.  If your firm agrees to accept [$ X amount] to update my credit report as paid, I will agree to pay this amount and this issue will be considered settled in full.

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DO NOT sign your name on this letter, as they might pull your signature off and put it on a forged document. NEVER accept verbal promises from debt collectors. NEVER give them your checking account # to pay them. Pay only via USPS money order and photocopy for your records.

If they refuse to give you a written agreement, there's no point in paying them. This debt will fall off your credit file in two more years anyway.

Answer 4

Just tell them to put the agreement in writing by a certain date or you're next call will be to a Bankruptcy Attorney. If you do get it in writing, make sure you send a money order.