What should I do if I am contacted by a debt collector?

If you are contacted by a debt collector, it is important to act quickly and responsibly. First, determine the legitimacy of the collector. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in Virginia, debt collectors must provide you with certain information about the debt. Ask the debt collector to provide you with their name, the name of the original creditor, and the amount of the debt. Also, insist that the debt collector communicates with you in writing, rather than by phone. If the debt collector is legitimate, next decide if the debt is yours. If so, you can either try to work out a payment plan or dispute the debt. When disputing the debt, you must get your dispute in writing, and provide it to the debt collector. If the debt is not yours, it is important that you immediately inform the debt collector that you are not responsible for the debt. You must also provide a written notification to the debt collector if you dispute the debt, so that they have documentation of your dispute. Finally, keep records of all of your interactions with the debt collector. Keep track of all your written correspondence and document any verbal interactions as soon as you can. This way, if you need to take legal action against the debt collector later, you have proof of the interactions.

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What should I do if I am contacted by a debt collector?

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