Settle Debt With Helvey and Associates: Your 3-Step Guide

You’re getting calls and letters from Helvey and Associates. The stress feels overwhelming. You want them to stop contacting you.

Good news: you have options to resolve this debt collection matter. You can prevent a lawsuit before it happens. You can negotiate a settlement for less than you owe. You can respond to a lawsuit and protect your rights.

Our partner Solo helps consumers create legal documents to respond to debt collectors. You don’t need an expensive attorney to fight back.

Who Is Helvey and Associates?

Helvey and Associates is a third-party debt collection agency. They’re based in Warsaw, Indiana, with offices across the United States. The company has been in business for over 60 years.

They collect debts using dunning letters, skip tracing, and credit bureau reporting. Their goal is simple: get you to pay what they claim you owe.

Contact Information

• Address: 1029 East Center Street, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
• Phone: 574-269-1726, 855-804-5704
• Email: info@hlv.com
• Website: https://www.hlv.com/

Who Does Helvey and Associates Collect For?

Helvey and Associates works for various creditors across multiple industries. They collect debts for utility companies and healthcare providers. They may also collect for credit card companies and other businesses.

The company has been operational for nearly seven decades. They’ve built relationships with creditors who hire them to recover unpaid debts.

How to Negotiate a Debt Settlement

You can settle your debt for less than you owe. Helvey and Associates often accepts reduced amounts rather than getting nothing.

Debt collectors frequently buy debts for pennies on the dollar. Even a settlement pays them more than they spent. You benefit by paying less than the original amount.

Follow these three steps to negotiate effectively:

Step 1: Respond to Any Pending Lawsuit

Did you receive a Summons and Complaint? Don’t ignore it. You must respond before the deadline passes.

Ignoring a lawsuit guarantees you’ll lose. The court will issue a default judgment against you. The collector can then garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.

Our partner Solo helps you create a proper legal Answer document. You’ll respond to each claim in the lawsuit. You’ll assert your affirmative defenses.

Step 2: Calculate What You Can Afford to Pay

Review your budget carefully. Determine a realistic amount you can pay right now or over time.

Send a written settlement offer to Helvey and Associates. Start lower than what you can actually afford. The collector will likely counter your offer.

Many collectors settle for 40-60% of the original debt. Some accept payment plans over several years.

Step 3: Get Everything in Writing

Never pay without a written agreement. The settlement terms must be documented before you send money.

Your written agreement should include:

• The exact settlement amount
• Payment due dates and amounts
• Agreement to delete or update credit reporting
• Confirmation that payment satisfies the entire debt

Keep copies of all communications and agreements. Honor your payment commitments once you reach an agreement.

Real Settlement Example

Karl owed $6,000 in medical debt. He ignored the bills for eight months. Helvey and Associates contacted him on behalf of the hospital.

Karl didn’t have the full amount. He offered to pay 60% over two years. The collector countered at 75% over three years.

Karl accepted the counteroffer. He saved $1,500 by negotiating instead of paying the full amount.

What Consumers Say About Helvey and Associates

Consumer reviews of Helvey and Associates are mixed. Some people report positive experiences when they communicate openly. Others complain about aggressive collection tactics.

You can read reviews on these platforms:

• CFPB Consumer Complaint Database
• WalletHub
• Better Business Bureau

One consumer, Jeff, found a $134 Duke Energy debt on his credit report. He’d never heard of the company and suspected identity theft.

Jeff called Helvey and Associates with low expectations. He connected with Jessica, who was understanding and helpful. She explained his options clearly.

Jeff chose to pay the balance. Jessica promised the collection would be removed from his credit report within 60 days. By February, all three credit bureaus had removed the collection.

Open communication often leads to better outcomes. Avoiding the collector only makes things worse.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you from abusive practices. Debt collectors must follow strict rules when contacting you.

Helvey and Associates cannot:

• Call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM
• Harass, threaten, or abuse you
• Use obscene language or call you names
• Discuss your debt with unauthorized third parties
• Contact you at work after you tell them to stop
• Continue calling after you request they stop
• Pretend to be government officials
• Demand more money than you actually owe
• Threaten legal action they don’t intend to take

Knowing your rights gives you power. Debt collectors often back down when consumers assert their legal protections.

File a complaint with the CFPB or FTC if a collector violates your rights. Document every violation with dates, times, and details.

Send a Debt Validation Letter

You have the right to request proof of any debt. A Debt Validation Letter forces Helvey and Associates to verify their claims.

Collection accounts often contain errors. The original creditor may have sold the debt multiple times. Information gets lost or corrupted in the transfer.

You might not actually owe the amount they claim. The statute of limitations may have expired. The debt might belong to someone else entirely.

What a Debt Validation Letter Does

The letter requires the collector to provide documentation. They must prove:

• You owe the debt
• The amount is accurate
• They have the legal right to collect

Helvey and Associates must stop contacting you until they provide validation. If they can’t prove their claims, they must stop collection efforts permanently.

Send your letter via certified mail with return receipt. You’ll have proof of delivery if disputes arise later.

A Debt Validation Letter won’t delete valid debts. But it gives you breathing room and confirms accuracy. It can also prevent a lawsuit.

What If Helvey and Associates Sues You?

Collectors file lawsuits to recover debts and earn profits. If you receive a Summons and Complaint, you must act quickly.

Your deadline to respond is typically 14-35 days. The exact timeframe depends on your state. Check your Summons for the specific deadline.

Missing this deadline results in automatic loss. The court grants a default judgment without hearing your side.

How to Respond to the Lawsuit

Your response is called an Answer. You file it with the court and send a copy to the collector’s attorney.

Respond to Every Claim:

The Complaint lists specific accusations against you. Read each claim carefully. You have three response options:

• Admit if you accept the claim as true
• Deny if you want them to prove it
• Deny due to lack of knowledge if you’re unsure

Many attorneys recommend denying everything. The burden of proof falls on Helvey and Associates. If they can’t prove their case, it may be dismissed.

Assert Your Affirmative Defenses:

Affirmative defenses are legal reasons the lawsuit isn’t valid. Common defenses include:

• Statute of limitations has expired
• You already paid the debt
• The amount is incorrect
• The collector lacks proper documentation
• Identity theft or fraud

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 8(c) lists many possible defenses. Our partner Solo helps you select defenses that apply to your situation.

File Your Answer Before the Deadline:

Print three copies of your completed Answer. File the original with the court. Send one copy to the collector’s attorney. Keep one for your records.

Some courts allow electronic filing. Check your local court’s requirements and procedures.

Having an attorney review your Answer ensures it meets legal standards. Solo offers attorney review before filing in all 50 states.

Take Action Before the Deadline

Ignoring Helvey and Associates won’t make them disappear. They’ll continue calling, reporting to credit bureaus, and potentially suing you.

You have powerful options to resolve this debt:

• Negotiate a settlement for less than you owe
• Request debt validation to verify accuracy
• Respond to lawsuits to protect your rights
• Report FDCPA violations to authorities

Each action you take strengthens your position. Collectors expect consumers to remain passive and uninformed.

You can beat Helvey and Associates by knowing your rights. You can settle for less by negotiating strategically. You can win in court by responding properly.

The choice is yours: take control or let the collector control you.