If you’ve fallen behind on your payments, working with a debt collection company like Consumer Collection Management (CCM) can be frightening and stressful. In an attempt to impress their clients, CCM may occasionally use forceful and illegal methods to collect the amount. Knowing your rights and how to defend yourself against unethical debt-collection tactics is crucial for consumers. Regardless of where you are in the collection process, this article will assist you in managing CCM.
What Is Consumer Collection Management, and How Does It Work?
Since its founding in 1979, Consumer Collecting Management, Inc. has been operating as a legal debt collection agency in Missouri. Among the creditors for whom CCM specializes in collecting past-due payments are credit card companies, banks, and other financial establishments.
In exchange for taking on the debt collection on behalf of the creditor, the agency receives a portion of the total amount. This is how they operate. Alternatively, they buy accounts that are past due from creditors at a reduced price and then make an effort to collect as much debt as they can.
The Complaints against Consumer Collection Management
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has not accredited CCM, and the company’s profile page on the BBB has also received numerous complaints from customers who were dissatisfied with the staff or the services provided. There are hundreds of complaints about CCM on the CFPB complaint database. These grievances consist of:
- Speaking with obnoxious and unhelpful agents
- Not answering a Debt Validation Letter
- Requesting payment for a debt they do not owe
- Giving false information about debt amounts to credit bureaus
The consumer collection management industry does not always adhere to state and federal regulations safeguarding the rights of customers. Understanding your rights will also help you protect yourself and ensure that you react appropriately if CCM gets in touch with you regarding a debt.
Knowing Your Rights When Consumer Collection Management Contacts You
Occasionally, customers who deal with large corporations, such as debt collection agencies, feel powerless. To safeguard debtor rights and prevent consumer exploitation, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was passed. According to the standards, CCM must not:
- Make several calls on the same debt.
- Make unfounded threats
- Notify credit reporting bureaus of the incorrect debt.
- Inform your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family about your debt.
- Misrepresent the consequences of the law.
File a complaint with the BBB, CFPB, Fair Trade Commission, and your state’s attorney general’s office if CCM breaks any of these laws.
How to Answer a Case Involving Consumer Collection Management
When a consumer receives a lawsuit letter, they may believe that their financial situation is hopeless. To pay off a debt, consumer collection management is still an option at this time. To answer the lawsuit, take the following steps:
Address Every Assertion Stated in the Complaint
In every case, there is a complaint document that summarizes the plaintiff’s claims against the defendants. CCM will have detailed multiple accusations against you in your case. You have three options for responding under the law:
- Admit: By taking this stance, you are indicating that you concur with CCM’s debt-related assertions.
- Deny: You want CCM to substantiate the claims made in this response.
- Deny due to ignorance: You claim that your lack of knowledge about the situation prevents you from responding appropriately.
Debt counselors will suggest that you deny the majority of the accusations and allow CCM to establish their case. Insufficient proof may lead them to drop the case or contact you for a settlement.
Declare Your Defenses to Affirmation
You can address how CCM handled the debt collection procedure in this part, as well as why you are not liable for the debt. Here’s your chance to demonstrate to CCM that you are aware of your legal rights as a consumer. Here are a few accusations that you can use:
- On request, CCM has not confirmed the debt.
- Inaccurate data was put by CCM into your lawsuit and credit report.
- Either the debt was canceled or you paid it off in full.
- Identity theft has affected you.
- Your creditor’s transfer of the debt to CCM has not been demonstrated by CCM.
Send a Copy of the Answer to Consumer Collection Management and File It with the Court.
If you submit your response on time, CCM won’t be hit with a default judgment. Therefore, find out when your state requires filings. Once the form is filled out, duplicate it three times. One copy should be sent to the court where CCM Collection filed the action, another should be sent to CCM’s attorney, and the final copy should be kept on file.
Pay Off Your Bill with Consumer Collection Management
You’ve allowed yourself time to talk with Consumer Collection Management about debt settlement alternatives after you’ve replied to your debt litigation.
If CCM wins the debt collection lawsuit, entering into a settlement agreement with them can assist you in avoiding wage and bank garnishment. You can get in touch with CCM for a settlement agreement if you have savings or anticipate receiving money shortly. If they accept an offer, you may have to pay off the debt faster than you had planned.
You provide a percentage of the total amount owed—typically at least 60% of the debt’s value—in a debt settlement. CCM agrees to relieve you of the remaining balance and to withdraw its legal claims against you in exchange for a lump-sum payment.
FAQs
What is consumer collection?
Anyone who routinely collects debts owing to others is a consumer collection agency, sometimes known as a debt collector.
By collection management, what do you mean?
The word “collection management” is most frequently used to refer to the branch of librarianship that works with collections. Collection management encompasses the range of tasks required to choose, acquire, store, and economically preserve collections.
What is the process of collection?
Debt collectors attempt to get delinquent customers to return their debts by contacting them via phone calls and letters. Even if the routing and account information are known, a debt collector must rely on the debtor to pay and cannot access a bank account or garnish a paycheck until a judgment is secured.
What is the procedure for collecting payments?
The process of starting the transfer of money from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account is known as payment collection. Orders or shipment invoices might start the collection process.
Conclusion
Make sure you have the conditions of your agreement in writing, and pay the creditor before your court date if you want to settle your obligation. Consider collaborating with a reputable group that will help you with the debt settlement procedure if you have never attempted it before.
