Evergreen Professional Calling? Here's What to Do Right Now

Evergreen Professional Recoveries has your phone number. They're calling about a debt. Maybe it's medical bills. Maybe it's something else you forgot about. Or maybe it's not your debt at all.

Here's what matters: you have 30 days from their first written contact to demand proof. After that, your options shrink. This guide walks you through validating the debt, checking if Evergreen broke any rules, and deciding your next move—settlement, dispute, or bankruptcy.

Who Is Evergreen Professional and Why Are They Calling?

Evergreen Professional Recoveries operates out of Bothell, Washington. They buy or collect debts on behalf of hospitals, credit card companies, student loan servicers, and retailers. Most complaints on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database,over 150 as of late 2024,involve medical debt collections.

When a creditor gives up on collecting from you directly, they either sell your account to a company like Evergreen for pennies on the dollar, or they hire Evergreen to collect on commission. Either way, Evergreen now has a financial interest in getting you to pay.

The company goes by several names: Evergreen Professional Services, Evergreen Professional Recovery Services, or just Evergreen Professional. If any of these appear on your caller ID or credit report, you're dealing with the same collector.

What Evergreen Collects

Based on consumer complaints, Evergreen focuses heavily on:

• Medical debt: Emergency room bills, outpatient procedures, ambulance services
• Credit card debt: Charged-off accounts from major issuers
• Student loans: Private loans in default (not federal)
• Retail accounts: Store credit cards and payment plans

Contact Information for Evergreen Professional

You might need to reach Evergreen to request validation, dispute a debt, or negotiate. Here's where to find them:

• Mailing address: 12100 NE 195th Street, Suite 125, Bothell, WA 98011
• Consumer accounts: 800-241-1305
• Client services: 877-591-7747
• General line: 206-223-1676
• Fax: 425-402-4495

Always communicate in writing when possible. Phone calls create no paper trail. Letters do.

Is This a Scam or Legitimate Debt Collector?

Evergreen Professional is licensed and legitimate. But that doesn't mean every debt they claim you owe is accurate. Debt buyers purchase portfolios with thousands of accounts. Data errors happen constantly. You might see debts that:

• Belong to someone with a similar name
• You already paid
• Exceed your state's statute of limitations
• You never incurred in the first place

The Better Business Bureau gives Evergreen a 1 out of 5 stars. Google reviews hover around 1.4 stars. Common complaints include aggressive calling, refusal to provide documentation, and attempts to collect time-barred debt.

Your job: verify before you pay.

Step 1: Request Debt Validation Within 30 Days

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you 30 days from Evergreen's first written notice to dispute the debt. During this window, they must pause collection efforts and provide proof. After 30 days, they can resume calling and potentially sue.

What to Include in Your Validation Letter

Send a debt validation letter via certified mail with return receipt. Include:

• Your name and the address where they contacted you
• The account number or reference number from their letter
• A clear statement: "I dispute this debt and request validation under the FDCPA."
• Specific questions: "Provide the original creditor's name, the original account number, an itemized breakdown of the balance, and proof that you are licensed to collect in my state."

Send it to their mailing address in Bothell. Keep a copy and the return receipt. If they continue collection activity before responding with validation, they've violated federal law.

What Evergreen Must Prove

Validation isn't just a printout saying you owe money. Evergreen must provide:

• The original creditor's name and account number
• A chain of custody showing how the debt transferred to them
• An itemized statement of charges, payments, and interest
• Proof they're licensed to collect in your state

If they can't produce these documents, you can dispute the debt with the credit bureaus and demand they stop collection.

Step 2: Check if Evergreen Violated the FDCPA

Debt collectors break the rules constantly. If Evergreen crossed a line, you might have grounds to countersue or negotiate from a position of strength. They cannot:

• Call before 8 a.m. Or after 9 p.m. In your time zone
• Call your workplace after you tell them not to
• Contact family, friends, or coworkers about your debt (except to locate you)
• Use profanity, threats, or intimidation
• Threaten arrest, wage garnishment, or lawsuits they don't intend to file
• Lie about the amount you owe or their legal authority
• Report unvalidated debt to credit bureaus

If Evergreen violated any of these rules, document it. Save voicemails, note dates and times of calls, and keep letters. You can file a complaint with the CFPB or sue for damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

Step 3: Decide Your Next Move

Once you've validated the debt (or confirmed it's legitimate), you have three paths:

Option 1: Negotiate a Settlement

Evergreen bought your debt for a fraction of what you owe. If your original balance was $5,000, they might have paid $500 for it. This gives you leverage. Offer to settle for 30-50% of the balance. Get the agreement in writing before you pay a cent. Make sure it states:

• The settlement amount
• That this payment resolves the debt in full
• That they'll report the account as "paid" or "settled" to credit bureaus
• That they won't sell the remaining balance to another collector

If you're struggling with multiple debts and bankruptcy feels close, see if Chapter 7 makes more sense. Settling one debt while others pile up might just delay the inevitable.

Option 2: Dispute the Debt

If Evergreen can't validate the debt or you have proof it's not yours, dispute it with the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Send a dispute letter with your evidence. The bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If they can't verify the debt, they must remove it from your report.

Option 3: Let the Statute of Limitations Run

Every state limits how long a creditor can sue you for old debt. In Washington (where Evergreen is based), it's six years for written contracts. In California, it's four years. Check your state's statute of limitations. If your debt is older than that, Evergreen can still call and ask for payment, but they can't sue. You can tell them in writing to stop contacting you.

One warning: if you make a payment or even acknowledge the debt is yours, you might restart the clock. Consult a consumer attorney before engaging with Evergreen on time-barred debt.

What If Evergreen Sues You?

If Evergreen files a lawsuit, you'll receive a summons and complaint. You have a limited window,usually 20-30 days depending on your state,to file an answer with the court. Miss that deadline and Evergreen wins a default judgment. They can then garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, or place a lien on your property.

Your answer should:

• Deny any allegations you dispute
• Raise affirmative defenses (statute of limitations, lack of standing, failure to validate)
• Demand proof of the debt

If you're facing a lawsuit and can't afford an attorney, many legal aid organizations offer free help. Or check if bankruptcy would stop the lawsuit entirely. An automatic stay halts all collection actions the moment you file.

How Evergreen Impacts Your Credit Report

Once Evergreen reports your debt to the credit bureaus, it damages your score. Collections can drop your score by 50-100 points. The good news: the impact fades over time, and newer FICO models ignore paid collections entirely.

If you settle, ask Evergreen to report the account as "paid in full" instead of "settled for less than owed." Some lenders view settled accounts more favorably. After seven years from the date of first delinquency, the collection must fall off your report whether you paid it or not.

When to Consider Bankruptcy

If Evergreen is one of several collectors hounding you, bankruptcy might be your cleanest exit. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) in about four months. Chapter 13 lets you repay a portion over three to five years while protecting your assets.

Bankruptcy stops Evergreen cold. The automatic stay prohibits all collection activity. They can't call, sue, or garnish. And once you receive your discharge, the debt is gone. Your credit takes a hit, but you're starting fresh instead of playing whack-a-mole with collectors.

If you're juggling Evergreen plus other debts totaling more than $10,000, run the numbers. Settling each debt separately might cost more than filing bankruptcy.

Final Checklist: Dealing with Evergreen Professional

Before you pay Evergreen a dime:

• Request debt validation in writing within 30 days
• Check your state's statute of limitations on your debt
• Pull your credit report and confirm the debt appears there
• Document any FDCPA violations
• Negotiate a settlement for 30-50% if the debt is valid
• Get any agreement in writing before paying
• Never give Evergreen direct access to your bank account

If the stress of dealing with Evergreen and other creditors is keeping you up at night, you're in the driver's seat more than you think. You have legal protections. You have options. And if those options include bankruptcy, you're not giving up,you're using a tool that exists precisely for situations like this.