How to Resolve Debt with Evergreen Professional Recoveries

Have you been getting unwanted calls from Evergreen Professional? You’re not alone. Evergreen Professional Recoveries is a debt collection company. If they’re contacting you, you probably have unresolved debt with one of their clients.

Don’t ignore any calls or documents you receive from Evergreen Professional. Follow the steps below to resolve your debt and avoid continued phone calls.

What is Evergreen Professional?

Evergreen Professional Recoveries is a debt collection agency based in Bothell, Washington. They collect debts for companies in various sectors. These include finance, retail, education, and healthcare.

Based on online reviews and complaints, Evergreen Professional mostly collects medical debt. You might see the company referred to as Evergreen Professional Services or Evergreen Professional Recovery Services.

Contact Information for Evergreen Professional

Evergreen Professional Services maintains a corporate office at 12100 NE 195th Street, Suite #125, Bothell, Washington 98011.

The agency’s website lists multiple phone numbers:

• Client Services: 877-591-7747
• Consumer Accounts: 800-241-1305
• General: 206-223-1676

You can also fax Evergreen Professional at 425-402-4495.

Is Evergreen Professional Recoveries Legitimate?

Don’t make the mistake of ignoring Evergreen Professional because you’re concerned about a scam. The company is a legitimate debt collection company. They’re contacting you about a debt they believe you owe.

However, reviews on Google give Evergreen Professional Recoveries an average 1.4/5 stars. The Better Business Bureau lists several complaints, giving them an average rating of 1/5 stars. The company has more than 150 complaints listed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Many complaints allege that they’ve been contacted about illegitimate debt. This shows the importance of validating debt before responding.

Know Your Rights When Dealing with Evergreen Professional

Even if your debt is 100% legitimate, it doesn’t give a debt collector the right to violate your rights. Every American is protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

The FDCPA stipulates the kind of practices that debt collection agencies like Evergreen Professional are allowed to do.

Debt collectors may not:

• Call you multiple times per day
• Call prior to 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Contact your friends, family, or coworkers regarding your debt
• Use vulgar, threatening, or offensive language
• Intimidate you or threaten you with arrest if you fail to pay
• Continue calling you after you send a Cease and Desist Letter
• Refuse to validate your debt

Do you believe that Evergreen Professional Recovery has violated the terms of the FDCPA? You can report it to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-382-4357. You can also report violations to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by calling 855-411-2372.

Validate Your Debt with Evergreen Professional

You can exercise your rights by requesting a Debt Validation Letter from Evergreen Professional. A Debt Validation Letter will include the following information:

• The name of the original creditor
• The total amount due
• Evidence that shows that the debt is yours
• The date of the last payment made on the debt
• The age of the debt

Evergreen Professional must also provide its debt license number. This shows that it can legally operate in your state.

You should request validation before making any payment or admitting the debt is yours.

Settle Your Debt with Evergreen Professional

If Evergreen Professional validates your debt, you’ll need to work out a way to resolve it. You can potentially settle the debt in three steps:

1. Respond to the debt lawsuit with a legal Answer
2. Negotiate a settlement agreement
3. Get the settlement agreement in writing once your offer is accepted

1. Respond to Evergreen Professional with a Legal Answer

Evergreen Professional Services might escalate the situation by filing a debt collection lawsuit. If this happens, you must respond quickly by filing an Answer with the court.

Failing to file an Answer could result in a default judgment in favor of the agency. The agency can also request legal fees, debt collection fees, and other charges. Typically, you only have two to four weeks to file an Answer. That’s why it’s vital to respond as quickly as possible.

Our partner Solo can help you respond to a debt lawsuit from Evergreen Professional.

2. Negotiate a Settlement with Evergreen Professional

Next, start the negotiation process with Evergreen Professional. First, decide what you’re willing to pay. As a general rule, your first offer should be 60% of the total amount.

Don’t be surprised if the agency comes back with a counteroffer. You can accept or decline their counteroffer. If you decline, you can submit another offer or take your chances in court.

Remember that you’re probably better off settling now. Otherwise, the judge may rule against you and add court costs to your debt.

3. Get the Settlement Agreement in Writing

Once you and Evergreen Professional agree on a settlement amount, get everything in writing. It’s not uncommon for debt collectors to continue pursuing matters in court even after agreeing to a settlement.

In addition, save any supporting documentation. Keep any emails you may have exchanged with Evergreen Professional.

4. Commit to Your Payment Schedule

Now that you have a settlement, you can move forward by paying off your reduced debt. Be sure to fulfill your end of the settlement agreement. Make all payments on time and according to the agreed schedule.

Once you’ve paid the settlement amount, request written confirmation from Evergreen Professional. You want proof that the debt has been satisfied.

What Happens If You Ignore Evergreen Professional?

Ignoring Evergreen Professional won’t make your debt go away. The agency can escalate the situation by filing a lawsuit against you.

If you’re sued and don’t respond, Evergreen Professional will likely get a default judgment. With a judgment, they can garnish your wages or levy your bank account.

Your credit score will also take a significant hit. A collection account can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.

Check If Your Debt Is Past the Statute of Limitations

Every state has a statute of limitations on debt. Once this time period passes, a collector can’t successfully sue you for the debt.

However, the statute of limitations varies by state and debt type. Medical debt typically has a statute of limitations between three and six years.

Even if the statute of limitations has passed, collectors can still attempt to collect. But you can use the expired statute of limitations as a defense in court.

Be careful not to restart the clock by making a payment or acknowledging the debt. Check your state’s statute of limitations before taking any action.

How to Stop Calls from Evergreen Professional

You have the right to request that Evergreen Professional stop calling you. Send a Cease and Desist Letter to the company’s address.

Once they receive your letter, they must stop contacting you by phone. However, they can still contact you by mail or proceed with a lawsuit.

A Cease and Desist Letter doesn’t eliminate your debt. It only stops the phone calls. You’ll still need to address the underlying debt.

Consider Your Options Before Responding

Before you respond to Evergreen Professional, consider all your options. If the debt is legitimate and you can afford to settle, negotiation makes sense.

If you’re overwhelmed with multiple debts, you might benefit from debt management. Our partner Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you consolidate payments and potentially lower your interest rates.

If your financial situation is severe, you might need to explore bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can discharge medical debt and give you a fresh financial start.