how do i find out about attorney general debt

by Dr. Alva Kuhn 5 min read

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Full Answer

How do I make a payment to the Attorney General's Office?

Make a payment online or contact the Attorney General's office at (888) 301-8885. There is a $1.00 transaction fee for Internet Checks or a 2.5% fee (Minimum $1.00) for Credit Cards. Please be advised that we are in the process of updating our new payment processing system to further provide more secure and safe payment processing.

How long does the Ohio Attorney General have to collect debt?

Per Ohio Revised Code section 131.02 (F) (2), we have 40 years to collect most state debts. Where do I send my payments? Payments should be mailed to: Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Collections Enforcement Section, P.O. Box 89471, Cleveland, OH 44101-6471. Why am I being charged collection costs?

Can a debt collector contact my attorney?

A debt collector can also contact your attorney and, if otherwise allowed by law, credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) about your debt. For more information about debt collection restrictions, see Harassment and Call Restrictions.

What should I do if I receive a notice from debt collectors?

If you receive a notice from a debt collector, it's important to respond as soon as possible—even if you do not owe the debt—because otherwise the collector may continue trying to collect the debt, report negative information to credit reporting companies, and even sue you.

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How can you find out who you owe debt to?

Check Your Credit Reports The first stop in determining what debts you owe should be to get your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Creditors generally report debt accounts to one or more credit bureau, which then add it to the credit report they maintain.

How do I find out what to pay off collections?

How to pay off debt in collectionsConfirm that the debt is yours. ... Check your state's statute of limitations. ... Know your debt collection rights. ... Figure out how much you can afford to pay. ... Ask to have your account deleted. ... Set up a payment plan. ... Make your payment. ... Document everything.

How do I verify a debt collector?

To request verification, send a letter to the collection agency stating that you dispute the validity of the debt and that you want documentation verifying the debt. Also, request the name and address of the original creditor.

Can you dispute a debt if it was sold to a collection agency?

Within 30 days of receiving the written notice of debt, send a written dispute to the debt collection agency. You can use this sample dispute letter (PDF) as a model. Once you dispute the debt, the debt collector must stop all debt collection activities until it sends you verification of the debt.

How can I get a collection removed without paying?

There are 3 ways to remove collections without paying: 1) Write and mail a Goodwill letter asking for forgiveness, 2) study the FCRA and FDCPA and craft dispute letters to challenge the collection, and 3) Have a collections removal expert delete it for you.

What is a goodwill request for deletion?

The goodwill deletion request letter is based on the age-old principle that everyone makes mistakes. It is, simply put, the practice of admitting a mistake to a lender and asking them not to penalize you for it. Obviously, this usually works only with one-time, low-level items like 30-day late payments.

Do creditors have to prove a debt?

Does a Debt Collector Have to Show Proof of a Debt? Yes, debt collectors do have to show proof of a debt if you ask them. Make sure you understand your rights under credit collection laws.

Can debt be sent to collections without notice?

Yes, a debt can technically be sent to collections without any notice. In some cases, you might not realize the debt is in collections until you check your credit report. Sometimes, you might not realize you owe the debt at all.

Should I respond to a debt collector letter?

If you receive a notice from a debt collector, it's important to respond as soon as possible—even if you do not owe the debt—because otherwise the collector may continue trying to collect the debt, report negative information to credit reporting companies, and even sue you.

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

Unfortunately, you're still obligated to pay a debt even if the original creditor sells it to a collection agency. As long as you legally consented to repay your loan in the first place, it doesn't matter who owns it. You may be able to pay less than you actually owe, though.

What should you not say to debt collectors?

3 Things You Should NEVER Say To A Debt CollectorAdditional Phone Numbers (other than what they already have)Email Addresses.Mailing Address (unless you intend on coming to a payment agreement)Employer or Past Employers.Family Information (ex. ... Bank Account Information.Credit Card Number.Social Security Number.

Do you have to pay a debt that has been sold?

If a debt is sold to another company, do I have to pay? Once your debt has been sold to a debt purchaser you owe them the money, not the original creditor. The debt purchaser must follow the same rules as your original creditor when they collect the debt, and you keep all the same legal rights.

How do I contact a debt collector?

A collector can contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram or e-mail. However, a collector may not contact you at unreasonable times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves.

How to stop a debt collector from contacting you?

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collection agency telling him or her to stop. Once the agency receives your letter, it may not contact you again except to notify you that some specific action will be taken. Disputing a Debt.

How long does it take for a debt collector to send a written notice?

your attorney that you owe money. Once a debt collector has notified you by phone, he or she must, within five days, send you a written notice revealing the amount you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe money, and what to do if you dispute the debt. A debt collector may NOT:

What happens if you fall behind on your credit card payments?

If you fall behind on your payments to these creditors, you may be contacted by a debt collector.

Can a debt collector contact you at work?

A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves. A debt collector may contact people other than you or your attorney to find out where you live or work, but may not tell anyone other than you or. your attorney that you owe money.

Can a debt collector harass you?

A debt collector may NOT : • harass, oppress or abuse anyone (i.e., use threats, obscene or profane language, etc.); • make false statements when collecting a debt (includes implying that you have committed a crime or saying you will be arrested or criminally prosecuted if the debt isn’t paid); or.

Can I sue a debt collector in Illinois?

A debt collector may not apply a payment to any debt you believe you do not owe. You have the right to sue a debt collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date you believe the law was violated. Printed by the authority of the state of Illinois.

Who can I contact about my debt?

A debt collector can contact your spouse. A debt collector can contact your parents or guardian if you are under 18 years old or live with them. A debt collector can also contact your attorney and, if otherwise allowed by law, credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) about your debt.

Where to report a debt collector?

Reporting a Complaint. If you believe a debt collector is violating the law, you may report your complaint with the Attorney General's Office. The Office uses complaints to learn about misconduct. However, we cannot give legal advice or provide legal assistance to individuals.

How long does it take for a debt collector to contact your employer?

Otherwise, the debt collector must contact your employer in writing. If the collector receives no response to its written contact within 15 days, it may then call or otherwise contact your employer.

How long does it take for a debt collector to send a validation notice?

Within five days after a debt collector first contacts you, it must send you a written notice, called a "validation notice," that tells you (1) the amount it thinks you owe, (2) the name of the creditor, and (3) how to dispute the debt in writing.

What happens if you get a summons from a debt collector?

If you get a summons notifying you that a debt collector is su ing you, don't ignore it. If you do, the collector may be able to get a default judgment against you (that is, the court enters judgment in the collector's favor because you didn't respond to defend yourself) and garnish your wages and bank account.

What happens if you receive a notice from a debt collector?

Protecting Consumers. Debt Collectors. If you receive a notice from a debt collector, it's important to respond as soon as possible —even if you do not owe the debt—because otherwise the collector may continue trying to collect the debt, report negative information to credit reporting companies, and even sue you.

How to contact a debt collector?

You may ask a debt collector to contact you only by mail, or through your attorney, or set other limitations. Make sure you send your request in writing, send it by certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a copy of the letter and receipt.

Our Mission

The Ohio Attorney General's Office has the authority by law to collect debt owed to the state. The Collections Enforcement Section is responsible for collecting outstanding debt owed to the State of Ohio for state agencies, institutions, boards, commissions, public university and hospitals, and local government entities.

Pay Online

The Attorney General's office has created a quick, safe, and reliable service that allows citizens to pay outstanding debts to the State of Ohio online. Under Ohio law, state agencies turn over their outstanding accounts to the Attorney General's office for collection.

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Disputing A Debt

  • It is important that you respond as soon as possible if a debt collector contacts you about a debt that you do not owe, that is for the wrong amount, that is for a debt you already paid, or that you want more information about. Make sure you respond in writing to dispute the debt. If you don't, the debt collector may keep trying to collect the debt from you and may even end up suing you f…
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Harassment and Call Restrictions

  • Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you. They cannot swear, threaten to illegally harm you or your property, threaten you with illegal actions, or falsely threaten you with actions they do not intend to take. They also cannot make repeated calls over a short period to annoy or harass you. Debt collectors cannot make false or misleading statements. For example, they cannot lie abou…
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Debt Collector Contacting Your Employer Or Other People

  • Employers Debt collectors may contact your employer but only: 1. To verify your employment; 2. To get your location information; 3. To garnish your wages (that is, taking payment from your paycheck), but only after it sued you and a court entered a judgment against you; 4. If the debt is a medical debt, to find out whether you have medical insuranc...
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Interest and Other Charges

  • Debt collectors may collect interest, fees, charges, or other expenses to your debt only if they are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or are otherwise permitted by law. If you ask, the debt collector must tell you how much it is charging you and why. To do so, send a letter to the debt collector asking for an explanation in writing. For a sample letter requesting informat…
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Credit Reporting

  • Debt collectors may report your debt to credit reporting companies, which put together credit reports that creditors use when deciding whether to give you credit. However, debt collectors cannot report false information about your debt. If you dispute a debtin writing with a debt collector, that debt collector must tell any credit reporting company that it has reported your deb…
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Old (Time-Barred) Debts

  • Debt collectors may not be able to sue you to collect on old (time-barred) debts, but they may still try to collect on those debts. In California, there is generally a four-year limit for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt based on a written agreement. However, it may be hard to figure out when the clock on that period starts to run or can be restarted (for example, a partial payment of the debt may r…
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Collectors Taking Money from Your Wages, Bank Account, Or Benefits

  • Debt collectors can only take money from your paycheck, bank account, or benefits—which is called garnishment—if they have already sued you and a court entered a judgment against you for the amount of money you owe. The law sets certain limits on how much debt collectors can garnish your wages and bank accounts. Certain federal benefits, such as social security benefit…
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Other Resources

  • For more information about debt collection and your rights, visit the following: 1. FTC's Dealing With Debt: Information about managing debt, credit repair, and different debt collection issues. 2. CFPB's Debt Collection: Common questions about debt collection. 3. FTC's Fake Debt Collectors: How to tell if a debt collector is legitimate or a fraudster. Back To Top
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Reporting A Complaint

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