Collection Agency Letters - A Sample Letter You Can Use

Article Summary - This article offers a sample letter you can send to a collection agency, to prevent them from contacting you in the future. Please note that this technique does not make your debt(s) go away. It merely prevents the agencies from calling you.

Phone calls from collection agencies can be a real nuisance, especially when they're not warranted. I once had an agency call me repeatedly for two weeks, about a debt that wasn't even mine. Even worse, it was a recorded message, so I couldn't tell them to stop calling right then and there. What a hassle.

Fortunately, there is something you can do about this annoyance. You send the collection agency a letter, telling them not to contact you anymore. They must honor the request, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

The letter doesn't have to be fancy. It just needs to include your name and phone number, along with your request that they end all communication with you. These are commonly referred to as collection agency letters, and you can find samples of them all over the web. There are only a few key components you need to include. For your convenience, I've included an example below.

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Sample Letter Follows
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Your Name
Your Address

January 5, 2010

XYZ Collection Agency
123 Elm Street
Austin, Texas 78754
Subject: Debt Collection Against [Your Name]

To Whom it May Concern,

You have been calling my phone number about a debt that is not mine. In accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am sending this written request that you stop contacting me immediately.

My phone number is 555-123-4567. Do not call this number anymore.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Sample Letter Ends
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Like I said, it doesn't have to be fancy. It just needs to include your name and phone, along with the request to cease all contact. Once the collection agency receives your letter, they cannot call you anymore. They can call to acknowledge receipt of your letter, but that's it. Anything beyond that, and they are violating the FDCPA.

Keep in mind, this sample collection agency letter is for companies who are contacting you in error. If they're calling about a legitimate debt that you owe, you may need to include additional information (such as the creditor and your account number). You can find an example of that kind of letter on this page.

Lastly, you should send your letter by certified mail, with a "return receipt" requested. You have to pay for this, so you might want to try sending the company an email first, or calling them back on the phone. Start with the easiest methods (email and phone), and then send the letter if the calls continue.

Related Articles:

• Dealing with debt collectors the right way
• Know the laws about debt collector harassment

I hope you have found this article and sample letter helpful. If you want to learn more about your rights when dealing with debt collectors, use the search tool at the top of this website. You can also find a lot of helpful information on the Federal Trade Commission's website, which is located at FTC.gov.