Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Washington

Re: Can Collectors Do That

You were right to stop bargaining with these people and seek counsel.

The fact that they are unwilling to accept payment unless you tell them your bank account information should be a tip-off that they are up to no good.

If I were you I would bring this to the attention of the Attorney General's office.

Also, I would visit budhibbs dot com and educate myself on the tactics of underhanded bottom feeder debt collectors.

Your original creditor had to take this debt off their books 180 days after you quit paying the bill.

The statute of limitations on collections in WA is six years to the day after the last payment you made to the original creditor. If they haven't collected anything in six years, they don't get anything now.

Unless you permit it.

This is a vile industry. They buy debt for pennies on the dollar and then call you and hound you until you agree to pay them the debt (that your creditor had to write off five and a half years before). I have seen documents that look like legal pleadings but they are not. I have heard recordings left on voicemail threatening to put debtors in jail and send the sheriff after the debtors.

Wake up. Be smart. Educate yourself. If you cannot pay a debt take a bankruptcy, but don't let the vultures help themselves.

ANY communications with a collector should be in writing.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell