How do I know if a collection agency is real if it doesn’t give me information on why I owe it?
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How do I know if a collection agency is real if it doesn’t give me information on why I owe it?
Today I recieved a phone call from a collection agency. The woman didn’t give me the name of the agency but she told me her name and that I owe a debt of $300 plus and it has to be paid off in 3 months. I asked what it was from and she said that it was from a radiology place from 15 months ago. This is the second time she’s tried to call; I missed the first call. When she told me this I told her that I already make a monthly payment to another collection agency for the MRI I had done back then. I want to know if this is a scam?
Asked on April 12, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Oklahoma
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You are wise to suspect that the person calling you may be trying to defarud you into paying a debt that you do not owe. In fact there are many people like this preying on people to have them pay a debt that is not owed.
If the person who is calling you about some debt that you do not believe you owe, I would ask for that person's name, address, telephone number, name of supervisor and name of company. I would also insist that you be sent written documentation showing that you the debt being called about. Based upon the information given, you should then call the entity that is supposedly owed the debt and you asking for a copy of any assignment of the debt assuming you even owe anything on it.
From there, you might want to consult with an attorney that practices in the area of consumer debt law to give you further guidance on the issue that you are writing about. It sounds that you are being set up to be a victim of a scam. Be careful.
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