
Debt buyers list is a collection of companies that purchase outstanding debts from original creditors. These debts can be old or new, and the buyers often target individuals who are struggling to pay their bills.
Debt buyers usually acquire debts through auctions or direct sales, and the process is governed by laws and regulations. For example, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) sets guidelines for debt buyers to follow when collecting debts.
Debt buyers list is not a single entity, but rather a collection of companies that operate independently. Some of these companies specialize in purchasing specific types of debts, such as medical or credit card debt.
The debt buyers list can be a valuable resource for individuals who are struggling to pay their debts, as it can provide access to debt relief options and credit counseling services.
What Is Debt Buying?
Debt buying is a process where companies purchase debts from original creditors, such as banks or credit card companies, for a fraction of the original amount owed.
These debts can be old, delinquent, or even charged-off, meaning the original creditor has given up on collecting the debt.
Debt buyers often purchase debts at a discount, sometimes as low as 1-5 cents on the dollar, which is why they're motivated to collect as much as possible.
Their goal is to collect the full amount owed, plus any additional fees or interest that have accrued since the debt was sold.
Debt buyers typically target debts that are at least 6 months past due, as these are often easier to collect.
They may use aggressive collection tactics, such as phone calls, letters, and even lawsuits, to try to get consumers to pay up.
The debt buyer's profit comes from collecting more than they paid for the debt, which can be a significant margin.
Debt Buying Process
As a debt buyer, your revenue is directly correlated with your ability to track down debtors and collect on a debt. This means that streamlining and shortening your debt collection process is key to bringing in more revenue.
A public and private records search engine that offers API integration and batch skip tracing with batch processing will help you gather more information quickly and streamline your collection agency's processes. This can be done through automation, such as data collection, which can be done through a public and private records search engine.
Here are the key steps to streamlining your debt buying process:
- Automate data collection using a public and private records search engine.
- Use batch skip tracing to gather more information quickly.
- Integrate API to streamline your collection agency's processes.
The Industry
The debt buying industry has grown enormously, with many attributing its start to the savings and loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The government auctioned off nearly $500 billion in unpaid loans to the private sector, which profited from collecting on the debts. This marked the beginning of a new market niche for debt buyers.
Debt buyers are often financed by large national banks and Wall Street private equity funds. Many of the credit card companies and banks that sell their old debt to debt buyers also fund the debt buying industry.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that the nine largest companies buy approximately 75 percent of the nation's delinquent consumer debt.
What Makes Them Unique
Debt buyers often purchase electronic files of debt information, but these files can contain many errors.
These errors can be significant, with some people being pursued for debt they've already paid off years ago.
Debt buyers typically don't purchase documents or evidence that proves the debt, making it harder to verify the accuracy of the debt.
The debt they purchase is often very old, sometimes referred to as "zombie debt" because it's so old.
This can make it difficult for individuals to prove they don't owe the money, as they may not have kept cancelled checks or account statements from that far back.
Debt buyers often say they'll continue to pursue someone for payment unless they can prove they don't owe the money.
Individuals are unfairly stuck attempting to prove a negative, which can be a challenging task.
Debt buyers are often aggressive in their collection attempts, casting a wide net to find people who may owe money.
They may pursue the wrong people, and it's routine for them to continue hounding individuals for debt even after being told it's not owing.
Debt buyers may be particularly aggressive and unprofessional in their dealings with individuals because they have no relationship to maintain with the consumer.
Researching Contact Information Before a Purchase
Researching contact information before making a purchase is crucial in the debt buying process. You should uncover all sorts of contact information, including email addresses, physical addresses, and phone numbers.
A public and private records search engine can help you gain access to this basic information with tools like phone appends. This is especially useful for skip tracing and right-party contact.
You may need to send a letter to a debtor after contacting them through phone calls, and a public and private records search engine can help you gather the necessary contact information. This is often a legally required step in the debt buying process.
To find the right type of contact information, perform a people search in a quality public and private records search engine. This will give you comprehensive and up-to-date information about a company's background.
Here are some types of important contact information you can uncover with the best debt collection software:
- Email addresses
- Physical addresses
- Phone numbers
Your Rights
If you're being pursued by a debt buyer for money you don't owe, you have rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
You must write to the debt buyer within 30 days after receiving an initial call or letter about the debt, and send it by certified mail. This letter should tell the debt buyer that you dispute the debt and ask them to substantiate it.
The letter should include a list of proof you're requesting, such as the name and address of the original creditor, the date the debt was incurred, and an itemization of the debt.
Here are the specific items you can request in your letter:
- the name and address of the original creditor;
- the date on which the alleged debt was incurred;
- an itemization of the debt (i.e., what portion of the total amount constitutes principal, interest, fees, other charges);
- a summary of your payment history on the debt;
- a copy of the applicable contract giving rise to the debt;
- a copy of the underlying account statement and other written validation and explanation of the debt.
This may take some time, but it can save you time and headaches down the road, and prevent the debt buyer from wrongly suing you or reporting the debt to a credit reporting agency.
Debt Collection and Credit
Credit reports are a crucial aspect of debt collection, as they impact how much you pay for loans and credit, and sometimes even whether you can get credit. The credit reporting agency in Minnesota is located at 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101, and can be reached at (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787.
Debt collectors can report your debt to credit reporting companies, which can affect your credit score. However, they cannot report false information, and if you dispute a debt in writing, they must inform the credit reporting company.
Negotiating with debt collection agencies can be a viable option to remove negative information from your credit report. You can also consider negotiating debt settlements or asking the original creditor to take back the debt.
The Reappearing
The Reappearing Debt is a frustrating phenomenon that can leave you feeling like you're being pursued by a never-ending debt collector. This can happen when a creditor sells a debt portfolio to an initial debt buyer, who then sells it to another debt buyer, and so on.
Debts can be bought and resold many times over many years, making it seem like the problem is never truly solved. Some people report that they thought they fixed a problem with a debt buyer who wrongly pursued them for money they didn't owe, only to later be pursued by other debt buyers for the same debt.
This can be incredibly stressful and may lead you to wonder if you'll ever be free from debt collection. It's essential to keep track of your debt and communicate with the debt collectors to ensure you're not being pursued for a debt that's not yours.
In some cases, debt buyers may not even have the correct information about the debt, making it even more challenging to resolve the issue.
Credit Reporting
Credit reporting is a crucial aspect of debt collection and credit. Credit reports include information about a person's account and repayment history, which impacts how much they pay for loans and other credit.
Debt collectors may report your debt to credit reporting companies, but they cannot report false information. If you dispute a debt in writing with a debt collector, they must tell any credit reporting company that they have reported your debt to that you dispute the debt.
If you're dealing with a debt collector, you can try negotiating with them to remove negative information from your credit report. You can also consider negotiating a debt settlement with the collector.
The contact information for the credit reporting company in Minnesota is 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101, with phone numbers (651) 296-3353 and (800) 657-3787. If you need to contact them using a relay service, the number is (800) 627-3529.
You have the right to dispute a debt and have it removed from your credit report if it's incorrect.
Interest Charges
Interest charges can be confusing, but it's essential to understand your rights.
Debt collectors can only collect interest and other charges if they're explicitly allowed by the agreement creating the debt or by law.
You have the right to ask the debt collector to explain the charges they're adding to your debt.
To get this information, send a letter to the debt collector asking for an explanation in writing.
This will help you understand what you're being charged and why.
You may also want to consult an attorney to see if the debt collector is charging you more than allowed by law or by the agreement creating the debt.
Unauthorized Wage or Benefit Deductions
Unauthorized Wage or Benefit Deductions can be a huge headache.
Debt collectors can only take money from your paycheck, bank account, or benefits if they have already sued you and a court entered a judgment against you for the amount of money you owe.
Certain federal benefits, such as social security benefits and veterans' benefits, generally cannot be garnished.
If a debt collector is suing you, don't ignore it, or they may be able to get a default judgment against you and garnish your wages and bank account.
If you're sued by a debt collector, you may want to consult an attorney to discuss your options.
Old Time-Barred
Old time-barred debts can be a tricky issue for debt buyers. In California, there's a four-year limit for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt based on a written agreement.
Debt collectors may still try to collect on old debts, even if they can't sue you. They might send you collection notices, call you, or report your debt to credit reporting companies.
If you think your debt may be time-barred, it's a good idea to consult an attorney to figure out when the clock on that period starts to run or can be restarted.
Here are some things to consider when dealing with old time-barred debts:
- Uncollectible records: Debt buyers should purchase debts that are difficult to collect on, but you should avoid pursuing debts you're not legally allowed to collect on.
- Bankruptcy and deceased records: If someone has declared bankruptcy or is deceased, you may not be able to collect certain debts.
- Public records search engine: A public and private records search engine can help you quickly scrub and remove these types of records.
Debt buyer software can reveal information about a company's background and help you identify uncollectible records. It can also provide information about a debtor that can help you skip trace and contact them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the biggest debt buyers?
Encore Capital Group and its subsidiaries are the largest debt buyers in the United States. They specialize in purchasing and collecting delinquent debts from various sources.
How do you find out who bought your debt?
Check your credit reports to find information on unpaid accounts, including the name and contact details of the company that owns them. This is a simple and effective way to identify who bought your debt.
Sources
- https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/publications/debtbuyers.asp
- https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/credit-and-debt/debt-buyers/
- https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/debt-collectors
- https://www.tracers.com/collections/debt-buyers/
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-collectors-collection-agencies
Featured Images: pexels.com