There are costs associated with bringing a civil lawsuit and collection agencies want to be sure of the following:
* There is a good chance that the collection agency will win
* The amount of money is significant - not small claims
* All attempts to collect (legally via FDCPA) have been met with a lack of payment
If the collection agency has one or more attorneys on staff, they will be more likely to pursue borrowers in court as the expense to do so is lower with in-house counsel vs. retained counsel.
In Ohio, the statute of limitations for debt collection lawsuits is six years for most types of debts. After this time period has passed, the debt collector cannot legally sue you to collect the debt.
Yes, a collection agency that has purchased your debt can sue you for the outstanding balance, even if it has been three years since they acquired the debt. However, the statute of limitations for debt collection in Arizona is 6 years, so they have up to 6 years to take legal action against you. It is important to seek legal advice and understand your rights in this situation.
Yes, you cannot ignore it. However, your lawyer must respond for you. Give your lawyer the information so that a speedy response can be made on your behalf. Learn your rights against collection agencies by reading up on the FDCPA.
Yes, you can sue a collections company if they continue to contact you after all debts have been settled. This behavior may violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It is recommended to document all communication attempts and seek legal advice.
First, make sure you have documented proof that shows the account was discharged. If you haven't filed a dispute. You should then report them under the Fair Debt Collection Act for unfair reporting. If, after that, they still report and account and you can prove otherwise, you should look into an attorney who can file suit for you. Rest assured they'll have five lawyers for every one you find.
no
Yes, collection agencies can do this. However, first they need to sue the borrowers and obtain a judgment from the court against the general assets of the defendants. Usually, a judgment will become a lien on any real estate property the borrowers own. If the collection agency does not go to court to sue for a judgment, however, it can not place a lien on a home. And not all states or counties may allow judgments to be attached as liens, although many do allow this process.
Yes, an out of state debt collector can sue you. Many debt collection agencies collect for companies located all over the country.
They can't freeze the account initially. First, they must try to collect the debt from you. Then, they can sue you if you do not pay. If they win a judgment against you, they can freeze the bank account. Sometimes collection agencies sue people for debt that is not their or that is past the statute of limitations. Learn your rights by reading up on the FDCPA.
No it is called re-aging which is federal violation, collection agencies do this to refresh the SOL so they have legal recourse to sue you for the debt.
Collection agencies are governed by federal and state laws. Debtors are given protection under the Federal FDCPA. A collection agency cannot "threaten" you with anything. They can inform you that your account may be referred to a collection attorney and legal action may be initated. Please familarize yourself with the laws pertaining to collection agencies. Be advised, that some of the laws do not apply to the original creditor.
Sue you, and if they win they can take whatever property isn't exempted. Also they can garnish wages and sometimes bank accounts. what is exempt property?
This is a misnomer. When an account is sent to debt collections, the collection agency does not typically own it. They are simply acting on the part of the lender or creditor. When judgment is sought on a bad debt, it is the lender who is suing. They are perhaps doing so through the collection agency and the lawyer they have under contract, but it is not the collection agency who is suing.
No you can not
Yes.
Yes.
If you are not refusing to pay and you pay the debt, they would have no reason to sue you. If you refuse to pay a valid debt, they may advise their client to sue you depending on what state you are in and what the laws are there. Some states only allow original creditors to sue and not the collection agency.