Can you dispute being sent to collections?
You have 30 days to dispute a debt or part of a debt from when you receive the required information from the debt collector. Once you dispute the debt, the debt collector can't call or contact you to collect the debt or the disputed part until the debt collector has provided verification of the debt in writing to you.
You can file a claim with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) handles consumer Complaints concerning debt collection agencies. If you've disputed your debt and the debt collection agency declines to accept your dispute, you can file a Complaint with the CFPB.
If you get a summons notifying you that a debt collector is suing you, don't ignore it. If you do, the collector may be able to get a default judgment against you (that is, the court enters judgment in the collector's favor because you didn't respond to defend yourself) and garnish your wages and bank account.
In general, paying off the total amount of debt you owe is a better option for your credit. An account that appears as "paid in full" on your credit report shows potential lenders that you have fulfilled your obligations as agreed, and that you paid the creditor the full amount due.
You can ask the creditor — either the original creditor or a debt collector — for what's called a “goodwill deletion.” Write the collector a letter explaining your circumstances and why you would like the debt removed, such as if you're about to apply for a mortgage.
Unfortunately, a debt in collections is one of the most serious negative items that can appear on credit reports because it means the original creditor has written off the debt completely. So when a debt is sent to collections, it can have a severe impact on your credit scores.
If you believe any account information is incorrect, you should dispute the information to have it either removed or corrected. If, for example, you have a collection or multiple collections appearing on your credit reports and those debts do not belong to you, you can dispute them and have them removed.
Collectors can sue you for a debt of any amount. If they get a judgment against you, they also can ask the court to garnish your wages to enforce the judgment. Don't ignore a lawsuit summons, even if you believe the statute of limitations has passed on your debt.
Normally, collections are disputed because the debtor believes they are incorrect for some reason. For example, if you review a copy of your credit report and you see a collection account that you believe belongs to another person, has an incorrect balance or is greater than seven years old, you can file a dispute.
You have the right to sue the collection agency if they act improperly for one year from the improper action. You can sue for lost wages and other expenses incurred, including legal and court costs. Also, the judge is allowed to award you up to $1,000 in punitive damages.