Anonymous wrote:NP here- send it certified and keep a copy of the cashed in check in case they want to go after you.

Got it. I definitely sent it certified and wrote the account number on the check. I'm also keeping the letters they sent me with an offer. Thank you so much for your help.

NP here- send it certified and keep a copy of the cashed in check in case they want to go after you.

Anonymous wrote:send a check for the reduced amount, write in the memo section "paid on full per agreement" or something similar. attach it to a copy of the letter and be fine with it. do not call them or otherwise engage them in any way.

GREAT IDEA! Thanks.

send a check for the reduced amount, write in the memo section "paid on full per agreement" or something similar. attach it to a copy of the letter and be fine with it. do not call them or otherwise engage them in any way.

Anonymous wrote:How much are we talking here, sounds to me it would be too little to involve a lawyer. If I were you, I would do nothing. Stand by the 60% or nothing. They will come back to you because they'd rather collect something than having to pursue a lawsuit. Also, are your sure the landlord did not rent the place again right away? What about your security deposit?

The total is less than $2100 and they applied the small security deposit towards what I owed. The settlement was for around $800. I have no idea if they rented the place. They told me they had six units the same size sitting empty and that's why they couldn't even try to rent mine.

How much are we talking here, sounds to me it would be too little to involve a lawyer. If I were you, I would do nothing. Stand by the 60% or nothing. They will come back to you because they'd rather collect something than having to pursue a lawsuit. Also, are your sure the landlord did not rent the place again right away? What about your security deposit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you offering to pay in full out of a checking account? The reason I ask is because I had a debt go to collections once and received a similar offer, but it was only if it paid it in full out of a bank account. So no payment plans and no putting on a credit card.

Yes, I offered to pay in full out of the checking account. The reason I have a little money now to pay this is because I just got my tax refund. The collections agent told me how they split the account into rent and sure deposit and how they can't take 60% off on sure deposit (he kept changing his story). I kept referring back to the letter they sent me and he kept telling me that the letter was no good because they can change their mind and revise it at any point. How can that be true?

GET A LAWYER and stop talking to collectors yourself. Call, eg , Robert S. Brandt in Alexandria, or any lawyer who does collections defense and FDCPA work. The collector could end up paying you statutory damages of $1000 for your trouble.

OK I'll give him a call. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you offering to pay in full out of a checking account? The reason I ask is because I had a debt go to collections once and received a similar offer, but it was only if it paid it in full out of a bank account. So no payment plans and no putting on a credit card.

Yes, I offered to pay in full out of the checking account. The reason I have a little money now to pay this is because I just got my tax refund. The collections agent told me how they split the account into rent and sure deposit and how they can't take 60% off on sure deposit (he kept changing his story). I kept referring back to the letter they sent me and he kept telling me that the letter was no good because they can change their mind and revise it at any point. How can that be true?

GET A LAWYER and stop talking to collectors yourself. Call, eg , Robert S. Brandt in Alexandria, or any lawyer who does collections defense and FDCPA work. The collector could end up paying you statutory damages of $1000 for your trouble.

Anonymous wrote:OP are you offering to pay in full out of a checking account? The reason I ask is because I had a debt go to collections once and received a similar offer, but it was only if it paid it in full out of a bank account. So no payment plans and no putting on a credit card.

Yes, I offered to pay in full out of the checking account. The reason I have a little money now to pay this is because I just got my tax refund. The collections agent told me how they split the account into rent and sure deposit and how they can't take 60% off on sure deposit (he kept changing his story). I kept referring back to the letter they sent me and he kept telling me that the letter was no good because they can change their mind and revise it at any point. How can that be true?

OP are you offering to pay in full out of a checking account? The reason I ask is because I had a debt go to collections once and received a similar offer, but it was only if it paid it in full out of a bank account. So no payment plans and no putting on a credit card.

Anonymous wrote:Talk to a consumer lawyer, you may have a claim under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.

Thanks, I sent them a certified letter with copies of letters they sent me. I just want to know what their offer is once and for all so I can work with it.

Anonymous wrote:Less legally binding than your obligation to pay your rent.

Maybe, maybe not. If it's determined that the letter was a valid offer that was accepted without revision, that would supersede the lease contract. I know you were trying to be an ass. Sorry to burst your bubble. OP, definitely talk to a lawyer specializing in the FDCPA.

Talk to a consumer lawyer, you may have a claim under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.

Less legally binding than your obligation to pay your rent.

Background:

I lost my job last year and couldn't afford my apartment any more. I told the landlord right away and asked them if they would let me out of the lease and if they would look for someone to rent my apartment early. They weren't willing to (I guess they didn't "have to") but I couldn't afford to pay it any more. They sent me to collections for one month rent. I'm trying to pay the debt now.

The collections agency sent me a letter last month saying all of the debt would be settled at 60% off if I called them by Feb 28. I called them today since that sounded like a reasonable deal, but after talking to them three times they keep giving me different stories. They keep saying they don't have to honor that letter and the best they can do is 20% or 30%. It sounds more and more like the letter was just to get me on the phone with them so they can bully me into paying more. I'm not trying to run away from debt, but I have a limited amount of money.

My question is, how legally binding is the letter they sent me if I called within the period they gave me? Can they jerk me around like this?