#debt collection: 4 articles
A debt validation letter forces a collector to show what it thinks you owe and who says so — here's what the law requires, how the 30-day dispute works, and what validation can and can't do.
A charge-off is an accounting write-off, not a forgiveness of the debt — here's what it means, who can still collect, how long it stays on your credit report, and what it can set in motion next.
Time-barred debt isn't gone, but the clock on suing you over it may have run out — here's how the statute of limitations works, what can restart it, and what collectors can still do.
Wage garnishment usually requires a court order, and federal law caps how much can be taken from your paycheck — with different rules for different debts.