888-622-0222

It's because debt collectors have only one thing on their minds: getting more money.  They're the greediest people out there.

You should check your state laws for bad debt. With most states if another creditor/collection agency purchases your debt (usually for .05-.10 cents on the $100) you should never I repeat never talk to them or respond in anyway to their letters or calls. The debt is probably charged off (7rs) or you were able to settle the debt with the original creditor and they're trying to collect on the balance. The debt is dead and they cannot reactivate it unless you acknowledge them. They cannot take you to court unless you respond and make a payment agreement. Don't! Collections will always threaten to take it to their attorney. Big Time Bluff! Don't fall for it. Never negotiate with anyone but the original creditor. You can go online and google for a letter of settlement agreement. The way it works is look at your debt, remove interest and start by telling the creditor that you have 30% (give a dollar amt) to settle the acct. Tell them that you have several creditors and limited funds and you're ready to file bankruptcy. Don't argue with them, just don't offer higher. If they agree you fax the agreement letter for their signature and when they fax it back you wire (money gram) the settlement. Don't send the money until you receive the settlement agreement letter back.
This makes the agreement binding and then you can dispute the debt on your credit reports and send copies to all 3 CB's. If they don't accept then tell them you have to move on to the next creditor. You can go into your credit reports and remove a lot of your personal info. ph# and any current address. Make it hard to be contacted. Hope this helps. You can settle any debt just like a debt settlement company except you don't get paid like they do.

Get Deletions
Why Paid Collections do not Improve Credit Scores
by Lisa Phillips
www.rebuildcreditscores.com
Why Paying an old Collection Account Lowers Your Credit Score.
As a collection account gets older, FICO seems to give it less weight in terms of your credit score.  Once you pay the
old debt, FICO resets the date of the last activity to the date you paid the debt and it is viewed as a new negative
debt, even though it is now paid. This is one of the many problems with FICO scoring. There is no difference between
a paid negative item and an unpaid negative item.

When to Negotiate a Deletion.
Before negotiating a deletion for a debt you may want to attempt debt verification with the credit reporting agencies
or debt validation with the collection agencies. If you just wish to pay a debt then a “Pay for Deletion” may be in
order. Pay for deletions can be done with original creditors or collection agencies.

Simply put, a pay for deletion is a request made by you to the creditor or collection agency to pay a debt in full or an
agreed upon percentage in exchange for a deletion of the account or trade-line. Some collection agencies will tell you
it is illegal or that they do not do pay for deletions. They are not being honest. Just like they put the entry on your
credit, they have the power to delete it. If you negotiate a pay for deletion with a collection agency you may be able
to settle your debts for pennies on the dollar. See Debt Settlement for more information.

Why all Negotiations Must Be in Writing.
As a rule, you should never speak to anyone at a collection agency over the telephone.  All negotiation should be
done in writing and all letters mailed via certified, return receipt. You must create a paper trail. Your correspondence is
your proof is you ever have pursue a lawsuit or small claims court matter.  Also, once you get a collection agency to
delete a matter, the letter they send to you agreeing to the pay for deletion can be sent directly to the credit bureaus
to speed up the deletion process.

Payment should never be sent before you have an agreement signed by the collection agency in your hands.

Sample Pay for Deletion Letter.
Never allow a debt collector fool you into believing that paying an old collection debt will improve your credit scores. The
reality is that paying an old debt will more likely lower your credit scores than raise them. I am not advocating that you
do not pay your old debts; however, you should always negotiate a deletion with the collection agency.
Collection Agency Address        

Re:        Collection Account for Original Creditor
          Account #:     xxxxxxxxxxx
          Amount:         $________

To Whom It May Concern:

I am willing to pay $_____ as and for full and final settlement of this account in exchange for an immediate deletion
of this account from any and all credit reporting agencies, including but not limited to Experian, Equifax and
Transunion.

This offer of settlement is not an admission or acknowledgment of the liability for this debt, but it is merely a way of
having this negative item removed from my credit files.

Certified funds in the form of a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $______ will be sent to (Name of
Creditor or Collection Agency) if the following terms of this settlement offer are agreed upon:

   1.        Full deletion of any and all references to this account in my credit files;

   2.        Full satisfaction of the debt;

   3.        No waiting period for the debt to be deleted from the credit reporting agencies since the debt will be
satisfied via certified funds;

   4.        A copy of the Universal Data Form (UDF) you transmit to the credit reporting agencies showing the
deletion request and/or a letter confirming that you notified the credit reporting agencies requesting a deletion;

   5.        (Name of Creditor or Collection Agency) agrees to delete any and all information referring to this account
from the all credit reporting agencies, including but not limited to Experian, Equifax and Transunion, within ten (10)
calendar days following receipt of full and final payment of agreed upon amount; and

   6.        (Name of Creditor or Collection Agency) will not discuss the terms of this settlement with anyone and if
contacted by any third party, including any credit reporting agency, (Name of Creditor) will not acknowledge that
any settlement offer was made, accepted or executed and will deny knowledge of debt.

If you are in agreement with the above terms, please prepare a letter on your company letterhead agreeing to the
above settlement terms, signed by an authorized representative.

Your response must be postmarked no later than 15 days from your receipt of this settlement offer or this
settlement offer will be withdrawn.

(This letter is just a sample, feel free to modify as needed)