How do I know if a Collection Agency is legit?

Do not ever give personal information over the phone.

If you are curious, give a totally fake birthday.

That should keep them shut for a while.

This could easily be a scam.

Google the name of the company followed by the word complaint.

But... they could just be saying they are that company.

So google the phone number also followed by the word complaint.

Research, research reasearch.

Today, First, Now. Get your credit reports for free at:

annualcreditreport.com

Reports are free - always have been. Don't get your score - this won't help you in this - plus you don't need it for anyting.

Print out both yours and your husbands reports - with his permission since it's illegal to do it without his knowledge.

Make sure everything is ok.

You might see a default on your report - and get your answer.

If so, call the number that the reports will give you.

Usually if something is on default the company name and phone number will show.

Do the reports first - ok?

And remember - don't pay for that silly score.

Focus on the reports and fixing this error.

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1

Amsher Collection

I did a reverse-lookup on the phone number and it sounds like it's a Collection Agency. Here's a comment someone posted (see the link below for all comments):

"It's AmSher (www.amsher.com), a collection agency in Birmingham, Alabama. Most likely collecting on an old bank account or retail account."

If you have no idea what they're calling about you should check your Credit Report to make sure there's isn't any kind of Identity Theft going on. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com.

When a debt collector first contacts you, you have rights under a federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your first step should always be to request validation of the debt. Even if the debt is valid, request validation anyway.

Send them a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt (do not use regular mail) stating:

Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting written validation of this alleged debt, including a copy of the original signed application with my signature. A typed letter showing an account number and balance due will not be accepted as validation.

--------------------------------------...

When they call back, tell them: I have sent a certified letter to your office officially requesting written validation of this alleged debt per my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Per this federal law they must provide written validation within 30 days and they must cease collection activity until they send you written validation. If the phone calls still continue:

Next time they call, read the following statement:

Pursuant to [your state] state law, this is to inform you that this phone call is being recorded. If you do not consent to being recorded, you need to terminate this call. Pursuant to [your state] state law, continuation of this phone call after officially being informed that it is being recorded implies consent to be recorded. This recording will be used to pursue Fair Debt Collection Practice Act violations in a court of law.

Check your credit report and also if your husbands credit report is clear then have them send you a letter in writing before giving them personal info.

For personal finnance