Debt Collectors Scams says Carol

Do you really owe the money the person calling says you do? 

The Colorado attorney general’s office warns that fraudulent debt collectors have stepped up the pace of their calls. Consumers are being threatened with lawsuits, and the prospect of a collector showing up at the workplace.

“Consumers need to be extremely careful when they receive calls concerning debts they do not believe they have incurred,” said Attorney General John Suthers.

Here are some reminders from the attorney general’s office about debt collection:

• If you are threatened or can’t get a record of the debt, hang up.
• Keep records of all interaction and transactions.
• If you let the caller know you do not owe the money they say you do, they have to stop calling after you notify them by letter. Then they may only contact you via a lawsuit. On the other hand, if you do owe the money, you still have to pay it even though the legitimate debt collector stops calling you.

The bottom line is: if you think you are being called by a fraudulent debt collector or being harassed by a licensed debt collector, contact your Better Business Bureau.  You can also file a complaint with the attorney general’s office at www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint.

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