Action Line: Watch out for scam debt collectors

Q Hi Dennis, I received a call the other morning from a woman with a very pleasant voice. She informed me that I have been taken to collections by a doctor I saw over a year ago. I am on Medicare and I was aware that a portion of the bill had been paid by them. I was also a bit surprised when I received a bill about six months later for an amount which seemed a bit overdue but reasonable. I paid that bill. Thus I was leery about the phone call I received saying I was being taken to collections in the amount of $88.

I told the caller about the bill that I had paid but when she wanted to know how much it was I dodged the answer. Anyway, I ended up telling her that if she would send me an itemized bill I would handle it. She verified my address and hung up.

Good news -- I have not heard from her again -- not in my mailbox or on the phone.

Allene Schooler

San Jose

A Since you have not heard from them, it was probably a scam, Allene.

Federal law requires a legitimate debt collector to contact you again.

Says the Federal Trade Commission: "Every collector must send you a written 'validation notice' telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you.

"This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don't think

you owe the money."

Now, if someone keeps getting collection calls and either does not owe the money or just wants them to stop, there is a way. Tell the collector in writing to stop.

If you owe the money, you still owe it and could be sued. They can contact you to tell you that.

The FTC advises you to make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail and pay for a "return receipt." Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit.

Contact Action Line at actionline@mercurynews.com, 408-920-5796, facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.ActionLine or twitter.com/Action_Line.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/action-line/ci_21490513/action-line-watch-out-scam-debt-collectors?source=rss

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