How can I avoid agreeing to make payments for debt I don't actually owe?

There are many debt negotiation mistakes to avoid. One of them is agreeing to pay for a debt that is not yours just to avoid collection calls or hassle from a creditor or collection agency. Regardless of the amount, people should not encourage creditors to get payment for debts from anyone other than the debtor responsible for the debt in question.

The first mistake to avoid is any admission that the debt is yours. Do not engage in any conduct that would constitute an admission such as making a single payment, signing anything stating that you affirm a particular debt or even speaking to a creditor more than once.

Second, do not make any type of payment or give up on your stance that the debt is not yours even if the creditor threatens to list it on your credit report or sue you. It is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for a creditor or collector to submit false information about you to anyone, especially a credit reporting agency. Creditors who violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act can be sued for the violations.

Finally, ask for proof of the alleged debt. If the creditor or collection agency does not provide this or the information proves that it is not yours, the creditor/collection agency will not have a legal basis to continue contacting you.

If calls continue after this, contact an attorney since there could be a legal cause of action for harassment.