How to Resolve a Debt With Diversified Consultants

You’ve likely received a collection notice from Diversified Consultants at some point. Diversified Consultants was a collections agency in Jacksonville, FL, that purchased overdue consumer debts. While the company is now closed, thousands of people were targeted by its collection efforts.

Debt collectors aren’t known to be subtle when chasing after you. Most will call you frequently and send you letters until you agree to repay. If you ignore a collections agency like Diversified Consultants, it may decide to sue you.

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What Was Diversified Consultants?

Diversified Consultants no longer has a functional website. However, its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile is still available to view. The company never accredited itself with the BBB. According to the profile, Diversified Consultants was in business for 30 years before closing.

Who Did Diversified Consultants Collect For?

Diversified Consultants, as their name implies, had a diverse portfolio. They purchased discharged and delinquent accounts from credit card companies, auto loan companies, and personal loan companies.

Read Diversified Consultants Reviews Online

Looking for intel on what other people experienced with Diversified Consultants? Take a moment to read these real online reviews:

Diversified Consultants reviews on Better Business Bureau
Diversified Consultants reviews on Yelp

Despite Diversified Consultants online reviews being a mixed bag, take proactive steps anyway. Many debt collectors are willing to work with people who engage with them. You can resolve your debt issue through negotiation and settlement.

Clear Outstanding Items From Diversified Consultants on Your Credit Report

You no longer need to worry about Diversified Consultants calling you or sending letters. But you may still have collections items that appear on your credit report. If that’s the case, you’ll want to take action to remove them. These adverse items could impact your ability to obtain future credit.

No one from Diversified Consultants will respond to your request anymore. Instead, you’ll need to file a dispute with each credit bureau showing a Diversified Consultants account.

The credit bureaus have up to 30 days to investigate your dispute. They must remove the item within five days of finalizing their investigation if inaccurate.

Example: Tara has an old cell phone bill in collections with Diversified Consultants. It reported her account to Experian, and the bill appears on her credit report. Tara finds out that Diversified Consultants is no longer in business. She files a dispute with Experian to remove the item.

Don’t Let Collections Agencies Like Diversified Consultants Intimidate You

You’ll never receive another debt collection letter from Diversified Consultants since it closed. But that doesn’t mean future debt collectors won’t pursue you for old debts.

If a collections agency contacts you concerning a debt, read the communication carefully. Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), all consumers can request debt validation. If you request debt validation within 30 days of receiving a letter, the agency must stop collection efforts until it responds appropriately.

If the collections agency validates your debt, you must arrange to repay it. Otherwise, the collections agency may force you to pay by suing you. When you’re facing a lawsuit, our partner Solo can help you respond and negotiate effectively.

Legitimate collections agencies aren’t out to make your life extraordinarily difficult. They just want the money you owe. They’ll likely entertain flexible repayment options, like monthly payments or a settlement.

How Debt Settlement Works

Settling the debt is a good way to save money while eliminating lawsuit risk. In a debt settlement, you offer the creditor a portion of the money owed. You make a lump-sum payment in exchange for being released from the remaining amount.

Debt settlement allows you to pay less than you owe. You eliminate the debt without filing for bankruptcy. Many collectors accept settlements because they receive immediate payment rather than chasing you indefinitely.

Diversified Consultants Is Gone, But Other Collections Agencies Still Exist

You no longer need to worry about Diversified Consultants specifically. But that doesn’t mean you won’t hear from other collections agencies if you owe debt. Request a debt validation if you receive a notice that an account is in collections. If the company provides the validation, you must repay or settle the obligation.

Advice for Negotiating a Debt Settlement

If you were served with a debt collection lawsuit, you’re not confined to court. You still have the ability to negotiate a debt settlement with the creditor. Proactively respond to the lawsuit so you have sufficient time for productive negotiations. You’ll also avoid a default judgment being entered against you.

Here are recommended steps to settle your debt:

Conduct a calculation to assess how much you can afford to pay. Consider using this debt settlement formula: Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) + savings
Reach out to the debt collector and kick off settlement discussions. Your opening settlement offer should be less than the maximum amount you can pay
Be prepared to engage in multiple rounds of negotiations with the collector
If you reach a debt settlement agreement, get the terms and provisions in writing

Protect Your Rights During Debt Collection

Know your rights under the FDCPA when dealing with debt collectors. Collectors cannot harass you, call at unreasonable hours, or threaten illegal action. They must provide verification of the debt when you request it. They cannot contact you at work if you tell them not to.

If a collector violates your rights, document everything. Keep records of all calls, letters, and communications. You may have grounds to sue the collector for damages. Violations can also strengthen your negotiating position for settlement.

When to Consider Professional Help

Some debt situations require professional intervention. If you’ve been served with a lawsuit, responding correctly is critical. Missing deadlines or filing incorrect paperwork can result in automatic judgment against you.

If you’re facing legal action from a debt collector, you need to act quickly. An attorney can review your case and identify potential defenses. You might have grounds to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. Even if the debt is valid, professional help can lead to better settlement terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Diversified Consultants?

Diversified Consultants was a debt collection agency based in Jacksonville, FL that purchased overdue consumer debts from credit card companies, auto loan companies, and personal loan companies. The company operated for 30 years before closing its doors.

How do I remove Diversified Consultants from my credit report?

Since Diversified Consultants is no longer in business, you should file a dispute with each credit bureau that shows the collection account. The credit bureaus have up to 30 days to investigate and must remove inaccurate items within five days of finalizing their investigation.

Can I still be sued for a debt from Diversified Consultants?

Since Diversified Consultants has closed, they cannot sue you. However, if your debt was sold to another collection agency, that new agency could potentially pursue legal action if the debt is still within the statute of limitations for your state.

What is debt validation and how do I request it?

Debt validation is your right under the FDCPA to require a debt collector to prove you owe the debt. You must request validation in writing within 30 days of receiving a collection notice. The collector must stop collection efforts until they provide proper documentation of the debt.

How much should I offer to settle a debt with a collector?

Start with an offer less than the maximum you can afford to pay. Calculate what you can afford using this formula: (monthly income - monthly costs) + available savings. Your initial offer should typically be 30-50% of the total debt, then negotiate from there.