maryland debt collection?
960089
They have to sue you first before they can "take" anything from you.  If they do sue and win, then it's up to the courts.  But any kind of threat or statement in saying what you are doing is illegal by not paying is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  Read that act front to back.  It's dry reading but quite eye opening.
922054
Contrary to what most people think, social security numbers are not super-secret information. Collection agencies, lawyers, and others have access to tools that can be used to locate you based on just a name and address, and can get your social security number quite easily. Instead of ignoring them, write a letter to the agency asking for proof of the alleged debt. Under law they have to provide this "validation". If they then provide the proof, you had best pay it unless you dispute the charges, otherwise you can bet it will pop up on your credit report. Even a small $20 collection can be very damaging to you for a full seven years, so my advice would be to just pay it.
660755
Again, many wrong answers.  Wish you folks would take the time to read the Fair Credit Reporting Act and get your facts straight.\n\nYou have two dates to worry about.\n\nThe credit agencies report your debt for 7 years, beginning on the day of default.  NOT the date of charge off, date the collection agency reports it, or the date it's sent to a new collection agency!  If you owed a bill on Jan 1, 1999, and missed that payment, THAT is your default date, and it will not change!  There is even a position paper issued by the Federal Trade Commission that states this fact very clearly.  I do not understand why collection agencies tell you otherwise, other then the fact they are lying!  \n\nMany times, when a collection agency gets the account, they may not know the deliquency date, or they will bump the date up for whatever reason.  This is called "aging the debt" and it's illegal!  \n\nYour other concern is the Statute of Limitations.  This date varies from state to state from 4-10 years.  So you need to check what your state's SOL is...see the link below for that info.\n\nThat date begins on the last recorded transaction.  Again, using the above example, of you made a late payment on March 1, 1999, that is the beginning of your SOL.  There are a few other examples, but they get legally involved, so I won't go into it now.\n\nAfter the SOL has run out, you no longer have a legal obligation to pay the debt.  If they attempt to sue you, you simply file a motion to dismiss based on the expiration of the SOL, and it will be quickly dismissed by the judge.\n\nSo....do you pay?\n\nThat's where you gamble.  If the debt is large, it may be worth the effort of a collector to sue you.  If that collector is in the same area/state, that makes it even easier and more likely they will sue.  \n\nIf you want to try and hide out for another year, it's up to you.  but once they find you, and if they win a judgement, that will be on your credit report for 7 years, and they can continue to try and collect for a long time.
236225
hi briezee1\nThe answer to this is going to be it depends.....First, Are they 100% accuratly reporting on your credit report? Second, Are the creditors the original creditor or collection agency?\n\nThere are a couple of ways of approaching this. If the debt is yours and is reporting 100% accurate I will concur with RICK that you have a moral obligation to repay the debt. With that said, I find it highly unlikely they are reporting 100% accurate.\n\nIf the creditor is an original creditor you may want to consider offering them a settlement. If it's a collection agency you may want to consider sending them a debt validation letter first. You want to know that you have a legal and contractual obligation to pay them and not the original creditor. \n\nIt is also important to know the date of last activity on the account. Even though negative credit may stay on your report for 7 years, most statute of limitations is much shorter. You will want to check your state statute regarding the debt.It is possible the SOL (statute of limitation) is up and the debt is no longer collectable.
692124
Call the lender (or, possibly the collections agency if your situation has gotten to that point).  Many companies are willing to work with you because defaulting on a loan is bad for their business, too.  However, you have to show them that you are a responsible borrower:\n\n1.  Explain to them what happened (tell them just what you told us here)\n2.  Tell them that you will take responsibility from now on (the loans will always be in your name, so even if your mother still plans to pay them off, you should still keep a watchful eye on your account balance to make sure that she is never late) \n3. Ask what repayment options you have at this stage.  Some lenders will put you into a forbearance in order to alleviate your payment problems.  Other lenders will recommend that you consolidate your loans in order to lower your monthly payment.  Others will, as you suggest, devise alternative payment options called an "income contingent" or an "income sensitive" payment plans.  Ask them if they can do this and, if so, whether they can make your payments close to $50.  Generally, once you make 6 consecutive payments on time, you will be out of default, which will help your take-home wages and your credit report in the long run.\n\nRemember, too, that collections agencies deal with a lot of lazy people -- show them that you are different.  If the person you speak to is having an "off" day or doesn't seem willing to help you, try again.  Consider asking your former Financial Aid Office to contact them on your behalf (I have done this for students) -- sometimes they are more pleasant when dealing with someone "in the business."\n\nFinally, one of your rights as a Stafford or Perkins Loan borrower is that you be allowed to speak to an ombudsman when things get rough.  You can find one and learn about what they can do at http://www.ombudsman.ed.gov/  (Basically, an ombudsman is an individual who resolves disputes through an independent viewpoint; they do a lot of impartial fact-finding to make sure that you have been treated fairly.)
198442
Relax, I can fix your problem real quick with just a phone call and a letter.\n\nCall up the cell phone provider and let them know your account was sent in error to a collection agency, and inform them to call off the dogs.  \n\nThen send a cease and desist letter to the collection agency.  The link below has a sample letter, just change it around to fit your purpose.  \n\nBe sure to include a statement telling them not to call or write to you again.  \n\nBe sure to check your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com to make sure that the collection agency didn't put any negative comments on it.  If so, I've enclosed some additional links that will help you out.\n\nMail the letter Certified USPS so you can prove and track it.  Keep logs of all letters and phone calls that you make in case you need to follow up with legal action.\n\nI'm 99% certain that by following the above advice you will not hear from them again.  Unfortunately, many collection agents are so narrow minded (all the see is green) that you may need to stop them in court.  \n\nIt's very important to note:  Unless the debt is large (at least $1000) many collection agencies won't even try to sue you to recover the debt.  They are content to going after your credit history and messing up your life.  \n\nYou are fighting a war!  Do not fight these guys unarmed.  Knowledge of the law is your only weapon!  Get armed!  Read the links below.
849017
Call your attorney and ask him how to go about collecting.
730238
An outside collection agency purchases your debt for a percentage of the total amount.  Once the agency owns it, the original company will list the debt on your credit report as "sold to collection", "referred to collection" or just "sold".  The collection agency's name will now appear on your credit report as the new owner of your debt and the current amount.  \n\nThe agency will want you to pay it in full since they probably bought it for 50% of what you owed, so if they can get you to pay it in full, it's higher profit for them.\n\nThey will call you, write you and request you pay the debt and/or attempt to set up a payment schedule with you.  After a while, they may atempt a settlement with you (which will do more damage in the long run).  \n\nJust pay the debt and get it over with.
716441
You need to call the numbers that are listed on the collection notices, give them your name and information, and verify with them if the payment is infact taken care of, or needs to be paid.  They are usually more than willing to help you give them their money back.  :)
213402
I usually pity people that find work with collection agencies.  I had a boob from a collection agency telling  me that she was a lawyer, she was lying.  \n\nTry and pay the company that you got into debt with something...$5 a month say?  Do not pay the collection agency anything.  Nothing.
216517
Each state has a "statute of limitations" for debts like credit cards, etc....\n\nThe SOL begins on the date of default.  I want to point this out because the collection agents will lie about it, and tell you otherwise.  \n\nSo, your first step is check the link below, and see how long your SOL is.  I'm fairly certain you are well past it.\n\nNow, all that means is that after the SOL runs out, they can not sue you.  You no longer have a "legal obligation" to pay the debt.  However, they can still attempt to collect if they want, but if you still don't want to pay them they can't do anything about it but pester you.\n\nYou can stop them from calling you by sending them a cease and desist order.  In the letter, remind them that the SOL has run out, and they are just wasting a lot of time and money by sending you letters.  \n\nAs for your credit report, bad debts can only be reported for 7 years.  If they are still being reported, you need to contact the credit reporting agency and demand that they be removed.  Again, don't believe the nonsense that the debt can be restarted for some reason or another.  I'm still waiting for the collectors in this forum to point out the law that allows that.  \n\nRead the links below, they will help you fight these guys.
238913
It's going to take a lot of letter writing and research.\n\nGo to the links below and study up on the laws.  There are links to sites that will give you step-by-step instructions on what to do.\n\nThe quick walk-through:\n\nGet a copy of your credit reports at www.annualcreditreports.com.  Check for errors or negative reports.\n\nWrite a complaint to the credit agency requesting they be removed.  They will then contact the creditor and "verify" the debt.  If no reply in 30 days the report gets removed.  \n\nNote there is a differance in "verify" and "validate".  "Verify" simply means they will contact the credit and ask if it's a valid debt.  "Validate" means that all records, logs, receipts, and anything that was used to calculate the debt must be produced and a copy must be sent to the consumer.\n\nSo, your next step is to contact each creditor and demand that the debt be "validated".  \n\nMany times, the creditor either does not want to mess with the time and paperwork involved in looking this information up.  Other times the records were destroyed.  If they do not send this information to you, contact the credit bureau and demand that the report be removed because the creditor failed to validate the debt.\n\nIf the report still stays, you have grounds to sue both the creditor and the bureau for damages, and violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.\n\nKeep a log of all letters and phone calls you make.  Do NOT let the collection agencies push you around, you have the law on your side.  Make them prove the debt or remove the report from your credit history.\n\nJust keep in mind....if it is a legitimate debt and everyone follows the rules, the report will stay on your records, no matter what you do.  It will stay for 7 years.\n\nGood luck\nGET ARMED!
350207
http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/taxforms/
189775
If the credit collector sued you in court and won, there are additional statutes of limitations on collecting the debt, and is different for each state.\n\nI provide two links, one for statute of limitations on debt collection, and the other is the statue of limitation on judgements.\n\nAlso, make sure it is a legal court document, credit collection agencies are very creative with their documents.\n\nYou can also check your credit reports, it the judgement is valid it will appear on your credit report.  \n\nF.Y.I. You can get a free copy of your credit report, by law, once a year.\n\nThe 3 credit reporting agencies are:\n\n1. Transunion - transunion.com\n2. Equifax - equifax.com\n3. Experian - experian.com
474347
Whoa.  Here's my 2 cents.  The difference between a paid collection and unpaid is the diff. between being hit by a car or truck.  Not much, cuz they both hurt like hell. The damage is done, so why pay?  If a letter was all that was required to remove derogs from your credit, wouldn't everyone be able to get one?  Fact is fact, so I've been reading all this about getting letters and removing and blah blah blah.  There's one simple way to remove derogs.  If you're conscience drives you to pay, that's something you've got to deal with.  As for forms, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION OR SIGN ANYTHING!!!!!!!!
249523
This is a classic example of how collection companyes screw you!\n\nEven after you have paid off the debt, they continue to post your histor on your credit report.\n\nNext time, send them a letter telling them that IF you pay off the debt, they MUST remove any negative history.  \n\nNow look where you are?  Broke and bad credit.  \n\nYour first job is to contact all of the creditors and credit bureau and demand that the status of all those loans say "paid in full".  Have the credit reporting agencies place a letter in your file explaining what happened.  You are allowed a short message.  \n\nGo through the links I've supplied and see if it helps.  \n\nGood luck.
1164759
Our company gives away backpacks with supplies every year...\n\nI am sure the same thing is available in MD.\n\n1. Contact the School District...they will know who to reach out to..\n\n2. Churches have a charitable contact....and they will know who to call.\n\n3. Battered Women Shelters have lists contacts that have all kinds of help.\n\n4. The Head Start in your area might also be a resource\n\n5. Write a letter to the Editor of your local paper\n\n6. The finance office at the College might also have info...\n\n7. Please tell your friend to Never Give Up...she is a great example to her children..\nRemember whatever we believe will happen!\n\nAsk the following groups to help direct you:\n\nBaltimore Sun Charities\nContact: Lee O'Hare\nPhone: (410) 332-6273\n501 N. Calvert Street\nP.O. Box 1377\nBaltimore, MD 21278-0001\n\n\nBaltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network (BIHN)\nDay Center\n4213 Loch Raven Blvd.\nBaltimore MD 21218\n410-235-2111\n\nAssistance with food, clothing, furniture, school supplies\nMontgomery County Information and Referrals: 240-777-1000