Bad Credit? Try Repairing Your Credit Free Through Debt Validation

A Credit Article Contributed by Brandie King

Bad Credit? Try Repairing Your Credit Free Through Debt Validation

So you have bad credit and want a way to try to repair it for free? Read the following article to learn more about validating your debts and how it can help to repair your credit.

Free Repair for Bad Credit: What is Debt Validation?

When a collection agency contacts you regarding an unpaid debt you have the legal right to dispute the validity of the debt. The burden of proof lies with the collection agency, not you. Under the law the collection agency is required to get verification from the original creditor when you request validation of a debt.

Before you pay any debts request that the collection agency furnish proof that the debt is valid. You would be extremely surprised by how many of them can't get proof that debts are valid.

Free Repair for Bad Credit: What Should You Do?

When you receive a collection notice from a collection agency, make sure you contact the collection agency in writing within 30 days of receiving the collection notice to request them to validate the debt.

Be sure that you send your written validation of debt request by certified mail with return receipt requested. By doing so you will have proof that you requested validation should any problems come up later.

Something else that you should do is to also dispute the debt with the credit bureau that is currently reporting it. Make sure that you do not dispute a debt with credit bureaus that are not currently reporting because doing so may get the debt inserted in your credit reports with them even though it wasn't previously.

Free Repair for Bad Credit: What Do Collection Agencies Have to Do?

When you have requested validation of a debt from a collection agency, the collection agency is, by law, required to mail you a copy of any of their findings from trying to validate the debt.

The collection agency has to cease collection activities against you until they have validated the debt. This also means that until they have validated the debt they have to stop reporting it to the credit bureaus.

If the collection agency fails to respond to your validation of debt request then you may have the ability to sue them.

Free Repair for Bad Credit: Get Help with Debt Validation

To learn exactly what the laws are regarding debt collectors read "The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act" from the FTC. http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm

You can find much more information on the topic of debt validation, as well as sample letters, at the following two websites.

The following website charges a membership fee, but it is a small price to pay for the resources and information they provide. Carreon and Associates http://www.carreonandassociates.com/index.htm

There is also a sample validation of debt letter on the following website and it is completely free to obtain, use and modify. http://www.creditinfocenter.com/forms/sampleletter9.shtml