How to Determine If a Notice from One of My Creditors is a Legal Document

People in debt are prime targets for scams. If you receive something that looks like a creditor's notice, follow these steps to ensure it's a legal document.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Read through the entire notice. Make sure the debt is real. Do you remember incurring it?
2. Evaluate the notice for authenticity. If your notice is from a law firm, confirm it exists. Contact them and ask for their license number. Use this number to check their business status and their state license.
3. Contact the debt collector. If you do not owe the debt, try and correct any error. Determine if the company is legitimate or fraudulent. If you do owe the debt, find out what options you have to pay it.
4. Contact the company where the debt was incurred. Ask what debt collector they use to verify the notice you've received. Make sure the debt collector who sent you the notice is acting on behalf of the company.
5. Contact the Better Business Bureau or your local authorities to see if complaints have been made about the company that sent you the letter. This is very important if you think you've been targeted for a scam.
6. Talk to your lawyer, or contact a local free legal service, if you have more questions about the notice you received. Make sure it's a legal document before you respond.

What to Look For:

• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act has information about what creditors can and cannot do. It is located at http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#811.
• Find the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find legal forms online to verify the legitimacy of your notice.
• Don't be afraid to question the legitimacy of any notice you receive in the mail. If you are unfamiliar with the creditor or the debt, ask for proof.
• It is illegal for creditors to mislead you with notices or false legal documents.
• Don't ignore a notice from a creditor, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate. This may make the situation worse.