Western Collection Bureau Inc
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Western Collection Bureau Inc is a debt collections agency. In this day and age, the average American is more likely to be swamped in debt since jobs pay extremely less and people have to rely on loans. However, that can become a pain if you are unable to pay off your debt. Your creditors may hire Western Collection Bureau, to get their money back or the debt collectors may even buy your debt from the creditor.
Is Western Collection Bureau Inc a Scam?
Western Collection Bureau Inc is a legitimate collection agency , which has been operating since 9/1/1979 (45 years) and located in Portland, OR. Their mailing address is 7412 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy Ste 205, Portland, OR and their contact phone number is (866) 444-9969.
Are You Being Called By Western Collection Bureau?
Many people tend to panic when they see calls from Western Collection Bureau Inc. They do not know the right response but they do not want to feel pressured either. Debt collection companies can get extremely rude and threatening if you don’t pay off the money you owe. However, if only consumers knew their rights, they would know that debt collectors have no right to engage with consumers in this way.
Harassing Phone Numbers
- (866) 444-9969
Western Collection Bureau Inc Complaints
Western Collection Bureau Inc has 2+ complaints. The last complaint has been made about “Billing/Collection Issues” and its current status is “Answered”.
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What to Do When a Western Collection Bureau Inc Calls you?
When you get a call from Western Collection Bureau Inc, do not panic and remain very calm. Do not lose your wits as these agencies much count on that. To tell whether this call is legitimate, follow these few tricks:
- Instead of the so-called debt collector asking you questions, make sure you start asking them questions as well. Ask for more information, which company they belong to, what their company name and logo is, etc. Make sure not to confirm any information like your bank account number or where you live. Ask them what the debt is about and which company has issued it. If they cannot provide you with any reasons or do not provide you with their company name or number, that should set off some red flags.
- As soon as you receive your first call from the Western Collection Bureau, you should receive a written confirmation of the debt from them. The letter should include the debt collector name, it should have a few of your rights listed, a mailing address, etc.
- Do your research. There are times when the debt collecting agency may be legitimate but not your debt. They tend to make mistakes. Search on Google for the company and verify whether it is an actual company. Check your state attorney general’s office to check whether this agency is verified and is licensed. You may also find the number of complaints filed against them. Moreover, once you know that the this agency is legitimate, contact them, because sometimes some people may pretend to be working with the collection agency.
- Check your credit report. You will get a quick view of what you owe, to whom you owe, how much you owe and the like. If someone calls you out of the blue to tell you that you have some unpaid debt and it is not mentioned on the credit report, chances are that it is a scam.
- Check the statute of limitations. If it has expired, the Western Collection Bureau Inc cannot ask you to pay stale debt. Do not reaffirm anything verbally which may lead you to restart the stale debt.
Know your rights and how to use them against Western Collection Bureau Inc
When Western Collection Bureau Inc comes knocking at your door, the first thing to do is to search for your rights in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 1977. This statute was specifically enacted to protect consumers from illegal actions, such as harassment, threatening to sue, threatening family members, coming to your home in disguise, etc.
The key provisions of the FDCPA 1977 are:
- Protection against harassment: abusive phone calls, excessive phone calls, threats, violence.
- You have the right to sue either the whole agency or just the individual.
- You can ask Western Collection Bureau Inc for proof of debt.
- You can ban debt collector from calling you at inconvenient times or at work. You can even ban them altogether.
- They CANNOT blab about your debt to other people. The information should remain between you and the debt collector.
When Western Collection Bureau contacts you for the first time, they have to give you a ‘mini-Miranda’ which is basically a full disclosure. In the ‘mini-Miranda’ you must be told of your right to dispute the debt, the name of the company, the debt amount and the right of the consumer to ask for its verification. They have to send you all of this information in writing 5 days after the call.
If Western Collection Bureau Inc badgers you with constant calls at inconvenient times or at work, you can send them a cease communication letter. They cannot contact you during the specified time you mention, can only contact through letters or you can ask them to stop contacting at all. If they have to contact, it will only be to tell you whether the debt has been finished or whether the creditor is filing a law suit against you.
If Western Collection Bureau uses abusive or threatening language or harm the consumer in any way, it is illegal under federal law. They cannot call you to abuse you, use profane or offensive language, threaten you or your property or your family. They are not allowed to call you or your family from different numbers, silent phone calls or anything of the like is also illegal.
If anyone from debt collection agency shows up to your home in the uniform of a police officer or claim to be an attorney of the creditor, that is completely illegal. Moreover any kinds of threats to seize your property or other assets or have them thrown to jail is also illegal.
The reason why debt collectors are hired is because they are persuasive, almost to the point where it starts counting as harassment and threatening. Since many people do not know their rights, they feel pressured to pay off the debt and become broke or depressed.
Something which you need to know is that it is in the debt collector’s best interests that they pressure you enough to crack you and get you to pay money. This is because your creditor who hires them pays them on commission basis. The earlier they get the money out of you, the higher the commission they get. If you do not pay your debt, your creditor may fire them. Which is why at times debt collectors may even accept a small amount just so they can get their commission quickly.