Can I pay the original creditor instead of the collection agency?

Can I pay the original creditor instead of the collection agency?

A creditor may have an in-house collection division. If not, you still might be able to negotiate with the original creditor. Often the last straw, the original creditor might sell the debt to a collection agency. In this case, the debt collector owns the debt, so any payment is made to the collection agency.

What happens if a collection agency can’t find you?

If a bill collector cannot locate you, it is allowed to reach out to third parties, such as relatives, neighbors or your employer, but only to find you. They aren’t allowed to disclose that you owe a debt or discuss your finances with others.

Can you tell a debt collector to stop calling?

Debt collectors are not allowed to call you at a time that’s inconvenient to you, according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). So if a debt collector is calling you at work, you’re legally allowed to tell them to stop.