What to Do If a Debt Collector Contacts You

When a debt collector contacts you, your first step is to stay calm and collect the facts.

Be careful what you say:

• Do not admit the debt is yours.
• Do not agree to pay anything right away.
• Do not give out personal financial information.

Gather information:

If they call, take notes. Write down:

• Date and time of the call.
• The name of the person who called
• Their company name.
• What they said about the debt.
• Save any letters or emails for your records.

If they call you, they must tell you:

• They are a debt collector trying to collect a debt.
• The name of the original creditor.
• The amount you owe.
• You have the right to dispute the debt.
• You have 30 days to dispute the debt before it is assumed valid.

Who might be contacting you:

• Original creditor: This is the company you first owed money to. 
• A debt collector: A company or law firm hired by the creditor to collect the debt.
• Debt buyer: A company that purchased the debt and is now trying to collect. They may have bought the debt from the company you originally owed, or bought it from another debt buyer.

If you get a letter or email about a debt, it must include:

• A statement that it is from a debt collector
• Your name and address
• The debt collector's name and address
• The name of the original creditor
• The amount you owe
• Instructions on how to dispute (challenge) or request more information
• The deadline (30 days) to respond

Tip: If any of this information is missing, it could be a scam. 

Learn more about what must be included in a debt collection notice in this article by the nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice.

Before you decide to pay or dispute the debt:

• Review your own records (old bills, account statements) to see if the debt looks familiar and the details match
• Ask for verification:
  • Send a letter asking for proof of the debt.
  • Do this within 30 days of when they first contacted you.

Why it's important to get more information:

When verifying a debt, remember that even if a collector contacts you, they may not have the legal right to collect. For example, they may not be able to force you to pay, or you might have the right to pay less if:

• You already paid the debt off.
• The debt actually belongs to someone else.
• They've added illegal fees or interest.
• The debt collector isn't licensed in Oregon.
• The debt was eliminated in bankruptcy.
• The debt is really old.

For more see:

• How to Get More Information About A Debt in Collections
• What Debt Collectors Can and Can't Do in Oregon
• Do I Have to Pay a Debt That's Really Old?
• Bankruptcy Basics: What It Can and Can't Do

Signs it might be a scam:

• They refuse to send anything in writing.
• They demand immediate payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cash apps.
• They threaten to have you arrested (which is illegal).

If you suspect a scam:

• Do not give any information.
• File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

If the debt is yours and correct:

If you've verified the debt is accurate and the debt collector has the right to collect:

• Pay the full amount if you can.
• Negotiate a payment plan or settlement.
  • Always get agreements in writing.
  • Avoid automatic payments if you are unsure you can afford them.

If you cannot pay:

• Talk to a nonprofit credit counselor about options.
• If you are low-income or get all of your money from benefits payments, like Social Security, disability, or others, you might have protection against debt collection. Learn more here.

If the debt is not yours or the amount is wrong:

• Dispute it in writing.
• The collector must stop trying to collect until they provide proof.
• Talk to a lawyer if possible.

More on dealing with debt collectors:

• Understanding Debt Collection in Oregon
• How to Get More Information About a Debt
• What Debt Collectors Can and Cannot Do
• How to Get a Debt Collector to Stop Calling

Other debt topics:

• Debt Lawsuits and Judgments
• Garnishment
• Bankruptcy