How To Deal With Wakefield & Associates Debt Collection
If you receive a call or letter from Wakefield & Associates, validate the debt first to ensure it's legitimate and yours. Once confirmed, you can dispute it, negotiate a settlement, or explore a payment plan. Ignoring the debt will likely make your situation worse and could lead to a lawsuit.
Get a Payment PlanWakefield & Associates is a debt collection agency that focuses on medical debt. If you’ve received a call or letter from them, it’s likely about a past-due medical bill.
Unlike many other debt collectors, Wakefield & Associates works mostly with healthcare providers. Their main role is helping hospitals and clinics manage billing and insurance claims. They collect on medical debts that are still owned by the original provider. They also buy debts and collect them for their own profit.
Struggling With Wakefield & Associates Medical Debt?
Don't face medical debt collectors alone. Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you negotiate a payment plan with reduced interest rates before Wakefield & Associates takes legal action.
Lower Your PaymentsThe company was founded in 1946 and is based in Aurora, Colorado. They operate in several states.
Why Is Wakefield & Associates Contacting Me?
Wakefield & Associates is calling you about a past-due medical bill. They are collecting this debt on behalf of a healthcare provider. Or they purchased the debt from one of their clients.
When they buy the debt, Wakefield & Associates owns it. They are trying to recover it from you directly.
Is Wakefield & Associates Legit?
Yes, Wakefield & Associates is legitimate. However, many consumers have filed complaints against them. The company has an “A” from the Better Business Bureau. But they have only a 1.01 rating out of five stars. More than 640 complaints were filed within the past three years.
The Consumer Complaint Database from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows 152 complaints in three years. Many complaints relate to claims that Wakefield & Associates tried to collect incorrect amounts. Some consumers say they made improper threats about criminal charges for nonpayment.
These reviews and complaints highlight relevant issues. They may not represent all consumers’ experiences.
Many of these allegations violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA prohibits third-party debt collectors from harassing or misleading individuals. If Wakefield & Associates has violated the FDCPA, you can report the behavior to the CFPB. You can even sue them.
One final note: Scammers can use Wakefield & Associates’ name to commit identity theft. Always validate the debt before taking action. Ask for additional information if someone claims to be from the company.
Do I Have To Pay Wakefield & Associates?
You might have to pay them, but confirm the debt first. Make sure it’s legitimate and that it’s actually yours. Debt collectors contact as many people as possible because most won’t pay. Managing a large volume of accounts can easily lead to mistakes.
If Wakefield & Associates can’t prove the debt is yours, you don’t need to pay. You can take action to ensure they stop contacting you. If they prove you owe the debt, you have choices to make.
Send a Debt Verification Letter
Before or within five days of initial contact, Wakefield & Associates must send you a debt validation letter. If you haven’t gotten one, send them a debt verification letter.
After getting the debt validation letter, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. If you file a dispute, the company must stop trying to collect. They must pause collection efforts until the dispute gets resolved.
If Wakefield & Associates cannot verify the debt, you shouldn’t have to pay it. Check your credit score and review your credit report. Report any errors to the credit bureaus.
If they do verify the debt, your next steps depend on the situation. Consider whether you agree with the amount and whether you want to negotiate.
Decide What To Do Next
After Wakefield & Associates verifies the debt, you have three options. You can dispute the debt, negotiate a settlement, or ignore it.
Option 1: Dispute the Debt
If you disagree with any aspect of the debt, you have the right to dispute the debt. Check your credit report during this process. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute errors. You can send a 609 letter to credit bureaus like Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer
Paying off your debt in full would be ideal. However, if you’re like most people contacted by Wakefield & Associates, this isn’t financially possible. What might be possible is partially paying off the debt with a negotiated settlement.
Many debt collectors will settle for as little as 50 cents on the dollar. They purchase debts for a fraction of the original amount. They still make a profit even if they don’t recover the full balance.
To start negotiations, offer to pay 25%-30% of the full amount due. After some back-and-forth, they might agree on 40% to 60%. Consider working with our partner Cambridge Credit Counseling to create a payment plan that works for your budget.
Can You Negotiate Every Past-Due Debt?
You can’t negotiate every past-due debt, but you can negotiate most consumer debts. These include credit cards, medical bills, payday loans, and personal loans. Federal tax debts are also negotiable through IRS special programs.
Home mortgages and car loans can’t usually be negotiated. These debts use the car or home as collateral in case of default. Federal student loans are also not usually negotiable. However, student forgiveness programs are available if you’re struggling.
Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)
While ignoring the debt is technically an option, it’s not in your best interest. It has several consequences, including added stress and anxiety about money.
What Happens if I Ignore Wakefield & Associates?
If you choose to ignore Wakefield & Associates, it will likely make your problems worse. For example, it could:
- Increase the size of the debt due to interest, fees, and legal costs
- Lower your credit score significantly
- Trigger a potential lawsuit, which could lead to property levies and wage garnishments
Debt collectors don’t easily give up. They expect consumers to ignore them and are willing to take additional legal measures. They will work within the limits of the law to collect.
It can be tempting to ignore the debt collector. Unpaid debts can get removed from credit reports after seven years. But the debt still exists and collection efforts can still occur.
You might hope the statute of limitations expires. The problem is it takes a long time for this to happen. Until it does, Wakefield & Associates can sue you at any time. Even if the statute of limitations expires, they might still try to sue you.
Ignoring the debt isn’t the best approach. Information is power. The more you know your rights, the harder it is for Wakefield & Associates to collect.
Can Wakefield & Associates Sue Me?
In most states, debt buyers can sue patients to collect on unpaid medical bills. When deciding whether to file suit, Wakefield & Associates considers various factors:
- The amount of the debt
- Whether the statute of limitations bars legal action
- If they can recover court costs, attorney fees, and interest
- Applicable law concerning creditor rights and contracts
- The ease with which they can seize your property and garnish your wages if they win
- How expensive it’ll be to file a complaint in court
- Whether you have any other debts
If Wakefield & Associates sues you, they will serve you a court summons and complaint. You’ll receive it at home, at work, or by mail. You want to respond to avoid a default judgment.
If you’re worried about responding on your own and can’t afford a lawyer, consider getting help. A structured debt management plan through our partner Cambridge Credit Counseling may help you resolve this before it goes to court.