how do I get the bill collectors off my case they say they are going to sue me HELP?
360261
Tell them your having an extreme hardship & you need to get a lower rate & payments you ca afford, otherwise if they cant help you then you will be filing BK (they hate to hear that since they won't see a dime if you do that).
113119
Take them to small claims court and argue your case in front of a judge.  Whatever you do, don't lie to the judge about anything.
793989
First read ugottafriend4life's answer again and follow it.  You may be able to add it to your BK.\n\nNext...VERY IMPORTANT!  Is this the first collection letter you got?  It should have a statement telling you that you have 30 days to dispute the debt.  \n\nSend them a dispute letter and demand validation.  That will buy you some time to look into the BK filing.  It also places a "stay" on the collector preventing him from placing anything on your credit report.  By law, he can not proceed with collection activities until he validates this debt.\n\nDuring this time you can negotiate with either the doctor's office (preferred) or the collector.  But demand IN WRITING that in exchange for payment they must not place anything on your credit report.  Does it make any sense to you to pay the bill and still have your credit messed up by these jerks?  If they sue you, the judgement stays on your credit report for 10 years, same as the BK report.  So they really can't do much harm to you.  But if they want your money then make them give you something in return!
534522
Yes you can easily fight this one and should. All tickets should be litigated. They are just using you as a profit center. Time to stop this.
975925
Keep a log of the date and time when the collector calls.\n\nAfter you read the site listed below, you should send a letter by certified mail to the collector's business address. In that letter, state the following:\n\n"You are to cease and desist all further contacts with me, pursuant to the Fair Credit Debt Collection Act."\n\nYou will be given a receipt for the letter at the Post Office. That with a copy of the letter you wrote will be your proof that you notified the collector, in wrting, that it was in violation of the law.\n\nIf the collector continues after you recive a recipt that they got the letter, You can sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. \n\nIf you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered plus an additional amount up to $1,000. Court costs and attorney's fees can also be recovered. A group of people may also sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector's net worth, whichever is less.\n\nYou must, however send the certified letter to the collector, and see whether they continue to violate the law.If possible, get a recorder for your phone. If the collector calls, you must notify them that you are recording the call for use in a lawsuit against them. State the date and time after you say this.\n\nThey would be extremely foolish to continue calling after that time, or otherwise contacting you, because of he lawsuit threat.
414252
The previous answer is untrue. \nAs per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, if you TELL them to cease and desist from calling you, it is usually sufficient. If not, you'll need to put your request in writing, and you're well within your rights to do so. If you owe them money, that's one thing, but they don't have a right to call and harass you. Continued calling after you've advised them to stop constitutes harassment.\nIf you still have problems, even after putting your request in writing, contact the FTC.\nI pray that your financial situation improves, too. :)
628915
Lets get a few things straight, and ignore the advice of these   bill collectors....\n\n1)  Credit reporting agencies report what creditors tell them to report.\n\n2)  You can not get negative information removed from your credit report if it's "fair and accurate".\n\n3)  There is no law forcing creditors to post anything!  There is no law preventing them from editing or removing any entry that they posted.\n\nTherefore, if you pay a bill off, there is nothing preventing a creditor removing negative entries from your report, and/or posting the entry to say "paid as agreed".  \n\nNote that just placing "paid" on your account does NOT remove negative history such as delinquincy or late payments.  \n\nThis said, what you are trying to do is fix your credit report by paying the debt.  Why would you want to pay your debt and still have bad credit?   The nonsense these guys are saying about a paid off delinquincy looks better then an unpaid one is wrong and stupid!  Would you rather get kicked in the nuts or kicked in the butt!  Neither!\n\nSo what you need to do is negotiate a settlement with your creditors.  In exchange for paying off the bill, they must remove all negative entries from your history.  Make them agree to this IN WRITING before you pay them a dime.  \n\nThey are simply lying if they tell you they can't do it, or it's against the law.  I am still waiting for one of the collectors who respond here to show me any evidence or law to disprove me.  \n\nAnd yes, they will do it, I've helped several people get their credit cleaned up this way.  If the creditor wants their money, they will work with you on it.
815720
they are just trying to intimidate you. tell them you are going to declare yourself bankrupt. you will find their attitude usually changes. if you go to court they do usually take a lenient view if you can show you have the funds to make the payments.
1037275
Call your lawyer and have them handle it.
644911
The advice to call the FTC, or your Representative or Senator....please don't waste your time.  What a crappy bit of advice!\n\nNot sure what the insurance company is doing, start by calling them and get info.\n\nBut you did say you have proof the bill was paid, so lets go along that angle.  Paul M is correct, you simply need to read the Fair Debt Collections Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.\n\nFollow my instructions....I've played this game before and it will work for you.\n\nSend a "demand to validate" letter to the collection agency.  Use the sample letter below.  By law, they have 30 days to send you proof that you owe this debt.  That includes contracts, bills, receipts, and everything used to calculate what they claim you owe.  Also include a cease and desist notation in the letter so they stop calling you and bothering you.\n\nSend a letter detailing your dispute to the credit reporting agencies that are listing this debt.  By law, they must investigate this.\n\nIf the collection agent does not validate this debt, send a copy of the VOD to the credit agency, along with another demand to remove the listing.  \n\nIf they still do not remove this listing, you have an excellent small claims suit against both of them for listing unvalidated debts on your credit report.  You can sue them for $1000 each, and you WILL win.  I've done it, it works!\n\nContact me if you need any help or advice.
62363
You may have a case. Call your state's Attorney General's office or call a lawyer.
754008
your best bet is to pay them off yourself.  If its come to the point where you can't pay 'em, negotiate with your creditors, if they threaten you, threaten them back by replying that you are going to file bankruptcy because you can't keep up with interest payments, and they should be able to just all of a sudden come up with a payment plan....
545320
Contact the trustee and find out if they will allow you to pay off your "plan" early.  \n\nYou don't want your BK dismissed, that will allow all of your creditors (including unsecured ones) to come after you.
193733
Go back and read emt815's answer again.  That is one of the most honest responses from a collection agent I've read to date!\n\nNow my turn...\n\nYou do not even have to deal with collection agents, unless they have purchased the debt.  Send them a letter to not contact you again.\n\nIf you contact the original debtor, they may be more receptive to working out a deal.  \n\nVERY IMPORTANT!  Do not pay a dime unless they agree to remove any negative report from your credit reports.  You are paying them in order to improve your credit, remember?  If that report stays there, it doesn't help at all.\n\nIf they don't want to deal with you, let them sue you.  They will probably win, but the judge will allow you to make payments that you can afford.  I had one person who owed $2000, and the collection agent was a total jerk.  It went to court and they won...the judge ordered $5 a month payments.
732562
you are right on track.this one is a slam dunk.though you are doing every thing right you need to contact your attorney generals office because she is adopting unfair and illegal business practices.this PERSON IS HAVING SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND IS TRYING TO TAKE IT OUT ON YOU,You sound like you have enough fight in you.go get her.If I were you I would start by sending her a certified letter indicating intent to file charges against her for double dipping,and to file a $5000 dollar small claim against her for attempt to defraud.if she goes ahead with her claim to send your "bill"to a collections agency she is only giving you additional ammunition for your claims.If this thing appears on your credit you can get it removed by showing that this is an attempt to at distortion.It will also give you the additional info.you need for a successful claim.
97740
First my battle cry....\n\nYou are about to go to war.  Do not fight these guys unarmed!  Your weapon is knowledge of the law!  Go to the link below and read up on the Fair Debt Collections Act.\n\nThe debt collectors are armed...they know these laws.  \n\nStopping the calls is easy.  Use the sample letters below, and send them a CERTIFIED letter.  It's not necessary to get a return receipt, you just need to prove you sent it.  If they continue to bother you then sue them!\n\nThere are other ways, but without knowing more about the who's and why's they are bothering you I can't help.  \n\nI am not a lawyer or a credit counsoler.  I am someone who has been down this path and counsoled others in dealing with these jerks.\n\nIf you need help or encouragement contact me.
701810
Check the "THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT".\nI had to do this once to a creditor harrassing us for a bogus debt. Harassment and threats are against the law. Send them a letter telling them to stop and threaten to copy your local consumer protection agency and better business bureau. They are in violation of federal law so trust me, they will stop.\nAlso, I can't remember where I found it, but somewhere on the internet is a sample letter you can even use and tailor it to fit your exact situation. Good luck.