No one enjoys getting calls from Enhanced Recovery Company (ERC). It can be a stressful situation and cause worry about what to say or do. (right?) However, if they are contacting you about a debt that you're certain you do not actually owe, you can easily get them to stop contacting you. This is especially true if they violate laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. In some cases, you may even be able to file a lawsuit against ERC.
As a credit repair expert and someone who owns a credit repair company, I have seen a lot of cases like this. We have people coming to us because of an ERC collection. I understand how draining it can be to deal with collections on your credit report, especially when it comes to something like an ERC (Enhanced Recovery Company).
You might not know it but ERC collections can have a significant impact on your credit score and financial well-being if left unresolved. But don't worry, there are steps we can take to address this issue and improve your credit health.
Contents:
- Who is ERC?
- ERC Debt Validation Letter
- Why is ERC Calling Me?
- How should you handle ERC calls?
- How To Remove ERC from your credit report
- Why Negotiating a Settlement Matters
- Working on Credit Repair
- Take Action Today
Who is ERC?
You might not have heard about them, or you might be wondering, "Who is the ERC collections company?" or "Are they legit?" Let's find out. ERC, also known as Enhanced Recovery Company, is a debt collection agency. They work with companies and banks to collect overdue debts that have not been paid. If ERC contacts you, it means they have purchased one of your past-due debts from the original owner to collect the full amount from you to make a profit.
If you are interested in learning more about ERC, you can find some helpful details below:
What is the enhanced recovery company address? 8014 Bayberry Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7412
What is ERC Phone number? 800-383-5979
What is their website?: ercbpo.com
How does ERC operate?
When companies or banks give up trying to collect certain unpaid bills, they sell those debts to collection agencies like ERC. ERC buys the debts at a discounted price and then tries to collect the full amount owed from debtors. This allows them to make money on debts others gave up on.
Are they legal?
You bet they are! ERC is a legal debt collection agency that operates within the bounds of the law. However, like all debt collection agencies, they are subject to regulations outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in the United States. This legislation governs how debt collectors can interact with consumers and imposes restrictions on their actions.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors like ERC are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, or unfair practices when attempting to collect debts. This means they cannot harass you, use false or misleading statements, or engage in any unfair practices in their collection efforts.
If you believe ERC or any other debt collector is violating your rights under the FDCPA, you have the right to dispute the debt and file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state's attorney general's office.
It's important to understand your rights when dealing with debt collectors like ERC and to know that you have options for addressing any issues that may arise during the debt collection process. If you're unsure about your rights or how to handle a debt collection situation, it's wise to seek advice from a consumer rights attorney or a reputable credit repair expert.
ERC and BBB
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing marketplace trust by providing consumers with information about businesses and facilitating dispute resolution between consumers and businesses. What I can highly recommend before dealing with ERC collections is to check their BBB profile to see if there have been any complaints filed against them.
To find reviews for ERC on the BBB website, you can follow these steps:
Visit the official website of the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
Use the search function on the BBB website to look for ERC (Enhanced Recovery Company). You can type "Enhanced Recovery Company" in the search bar and hit enter.
Once you've found the ERC profile on the BBB website, you should be able to see an overall rating for the company based on customer reviews and complaints. The BBB assigns ratings ranging from A+ (highest) to F (lowest) based on various factors, including customer complaints and how the company responds to them.
You can also read individual customer reviews and complaints on the ERC BBB profile. These reviews can provide insights into other consumers' experiences with ERC's debt collection practices and customer service.
Checking the BBB rating and complaint history for ERC can give you a good idea of how they operate and whether they tend to resolve issues with consumers satisfactorily. If there are a lot of unresolved complaints or a poor BBB rating, that would be cause for concern when dealing with them for debt collection. But if ERC has a good BBB rating and few or no complaints, that indicates they generally handle consumer issues appropriately.
Either way, checking the BBB is a good first step when a collection agency contacts you. It can help you decide how to proceed and whether you may need to take extra precautions in dealing with them.
Overall, the BBB serves as a resource for consumers to research businesses, file complaints, and seek resolution in cases of disputes, with the goal of promoting trust and accountability in the marketplace.
ERC Debt Validation Letter
Beyond checking the BBB, I also recommend requesting a debt validation letter from ERC as soon as they contact you. By law, debt collectors must provide written validation for the debt they are attempting to collect within 5 days of first contacting you. Requesting this validation early on can help weed out illegitimate debts and allow you to dispute the collection if needed.
A debt validation letter lists key details about the alleged debt, including:
The original creditor's name
The date the debt was incurred
The amount of the original debt and current balance owed
A copy of the original agreement or contract
By law, the debt collector must send you this letter within 5 days of first contacting you about the debt. If they fail to provide adequate validation, you have grounds to dispute the debt.
You can request the debt validation letter by:
Sending a debt validation request letter by certified mail. You can find templates online.
Calling the debt collector and requesting the validation letter be sent to you in writing. Be sure to follow up in writing to confirm and document the request.
If ERC is unable to provide adequate validation for the debt - like a signed contract or account information matching your records - you can dispute the collection as invalid. This debt may have been sold multiple times, and details were lost along the way.
ERC Debt Validation Letter Template
Okay, so now time to tackle something very important - validating your debt. Requesting a debt validation letter is a simple but effective step you can take to verify the authenticity and details of a debt before deciding how to proceed. Why? Because, if ERC is unable to validate the debt properly, you may be able to avoid paying the collection.
Below is a sample ERC debt validation letter template:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[ERC Collection Agency]
[ERC Address] [City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: Request for Validation of Debt - Account Number [Your Account Number]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to formally request validation of the debt associated with the account number [Your Account Number], which appears on my credit report. I recently became aware of this debt and am seeking to verify its authenticity and the details surrounding it.
I request that you provide the following information:
The original creditor's name and contact information.
The original account number and date of the alleged debt.
Verification that ERC has the legal authority to collect this debt.
Documentation proving that I am responsible for this debt, including copies of any agreements or contracts.
Please note that I am exercising my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which grants consumers the right to request validation of a debt. According to the FDCPA, debt collectors are obligated to provide this information within 30 days of receiving a written request.
Until such time that the debt is properly validated, I am disputing its accuracy and validity with the credit reporting agencies. Furthermore, I request that all collection activities, including communication attempts and reporting to credit bureaus, be ceased until this matter is resolved.
Please respond to this request in writing within 30 days of receipt. Failure to provide adequate validation of the debt may result in further action on my part, including disputing the debt with the credit bureaus and seeking legal counsel.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Signature - if sending by mail]
Remember to keep a copy of this letter for your records and send it via certified mail with the return receipt requested to ensure that it is received by ERC and that you have documentation of your communication.
Why is ERC Calling Me?
Many customers come to us after receiving calls from ERC regarding debts they are convinced they do not actually owe. Some of the most common issues we see include:
• Mistaken identity - ERC has the wrong person and is trying to collect from someone who does not actually have the alleged debt.
• Debts past the statute of limitations - Many debts become too old for legal collection after a certain number of years, usually between 3 to 6 years, depending on the state and type of debt. Yet collectors will still try to collect.
• Fraudulent debts - Some debts claimed by ERC were actually incurred through identity theft or fraud and are not legitimate obligations of the customer.
When people come to us in these situations, our first step is verifying the details of the alleged debt and ERC's legal right to collect it. We then guide our customers through the process of disputing the debt with ERC and the credit reporting agencies if needed. This often involves sending official dispute letters and following up until the collection is removed from their credit reports and ERC stops contacting them.
The results we achieve range from simply getting ERC to stop calling to full removal of the collection from credit reports, depending on the specific circumstances and extent of any legal violations by ERC.
How should you handle ERC calls?
Getting a call from ERC can be unsettling, but stay calm. You do not need to answer every call right away until you feel ready. For example, imagine you receive a call from ERC claiming you owe $2,000 on a credit card debt. Here are some tips:
Stay calm and polite during the call, but do not provide any personal information yet. Explain you need to verify the debt details before discussing further.
Know your rights under laws like the FDCPA, which protects you from unfair collection practices. Be aware of what ERC is allowed and not allowed to do.
Request a debt validation letter be sent in writing, specifying the account number, original creditor, and balance.
Verify the debt is legitimate before admitting or paying anything. Debt collectors don't always have accurate information. Once you receive the letter, review the details carefully. Check for any mismatches with your own records that indicate the debt is not valid.
If there are discrepancies, draft a dispute letter to ERC explaining why you do not believe you owe the debt. Include copies of any relevant documents.
Send the dispute letter via certified mail and keep a copy for your records. Follow up with ERC in writing if they continue contacting you.
If ERC is unable to provide adequate proof the debt is valid and yours, you have grounds to refuse payment and request they cease collection attempts.
>If needed, you can also dispute the collection with the credit bureaus to have it removed from your credit report.
Keep records of all contact with ERC, like dates, details, and agreements. This can help if you need to take action later.
How To Remove ERC from your credit report
Removing ERC collections from your credit report can be a complex process, but there are several steps you can take to address the issue and improve your credit standing:
Request Validation of the Debt: If you're unsure about the accuracy of the ERC collection on your credit report, you have the right to request validation of the debt. Within 30 days of being contacted by ERC, send a letter requesting validation. They must provide evidence that you owe the debt and that they have the legal right to collect it. If they fail to validate the debt, they're required to remove it from your credit report.
Dispute Inaccurate Debts: If you believe that the ERC collection is inaccurate or doesn't belong to you, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus. Submit a dispute letter explaining why you believe the information is incorrect, along with any supporting documentation. The credit bureaus will investigate your claim and remove the collection if it's found to be inaccurate.
Negotiate a Pay-for-Delete: If the ERC collection is valid and you're unable to get it removed through validation or dispute, you can negotiate a pay-for-delete agreement. This involves offering to pay a portion of the debt in exchange for ERC removing it from your credit report. It's essential to get any agreement in writing before making payment to ensure that ERC follows through on their end of the deal.
Seek Professional Help: Dealing with collections and repairing your credit can be overwhelming, especially if you're unsure where to start. Consider working with credit repair experts like ASAP Credit Repair. Check (www.asapcreditrepairusa.com). We have experience dealing with creditors and credit bureaus and can help you navigate the process more effectively. We would also love to provide guidance on other strategies for improving your credit scores over time.
By following these steps and seeking assistance from professionals if needed, you can take proactive measures to address ERC collections on your credit report and work towards improving your credit health. Remember to stay persistent and advocate for your rights throughout the process.
Why Negotiating a Settlement Matters
Of course, if you owe the debt, it's best to negotiate and try to reach a settlement. Getting debt collections removed is important, as they can seriously damage your credit score over time. A settlement is the quickest path to removing the collection from your reports. Once removed, you'll want to work on credit repair. Companies like ASAP Credit Repair can help you improve your credit standing and get back on track financially. Just book a free consultation with them online or by searching "credit repair near me" to get started.
If you find yourself in a situation where you legitimately owe a debt that has been sent to collections, negotiating a settlement is often the quickest and most effective path to resolving the issue. A settlement allows you to pay a portion of the debt in exchange for the collection agency removing it from your credit reports.
Removing collections from your credit reports is essential because they can have a severe negative impact on your credit score over time. Collections can stay on your credit reports for up to seven years, dragging down your score and making it difficult to qualify for loans, credit cards, or favorable interest rates.
By negotiating a settlement and getting the collection removed from your reports, you can start the process of rebuilding your credit and regaining financial stability.
Working on Credit Repair
Once you've successfully negotiated a settlement and had the collection removed from your credit reports, it's essential to focus on credit repair. Repairing your credit involves taking steps to improve your credit score and demonstrate responsible financial behavior to lenders and creditors.
Companies like ASAP Credit Repair specialize in helping individuals improve their credit standing and navigate the complexities of credit repair. We offer personalized solutions tailored to your unique financial situation, whether you're dealing with collections, late payments, or other credit issues.
Booking a free consultation with a reliable credit repair company (like ours!) is a great first step toward rebuilding your credit. During the consultation, credit experts will review your credit reports, identify areas for improvement, and develop a customized plan to help you achieve your credit goals.
Take Action Today
Dealing with debt collections can feel overwhelming, but it's essential to take action and advocate for your financial well-being. Whether you're negotiating a settlement with ERC or seeking assistance from a credit repair company like ASAP Credit Repair USA, remember that you have options for improving your credit standing and securing a brighter financial future. Don't hesitate to take the first step toward a better credit score and greater financial stability.
Do you have more credit repair questions? Comment down below and I'll be happy to answer those and talk about it on my next blog. See you around!