If you’ve been contacted by Bonneville Collections (or Bonneville Billing and Collections, Inc.), it’s important to understand your rights and options. Dealing with debt collectors can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Collection accounts can also detrimental impact to your credit score making it that much more important to resolve these accounts. Particularly if you are planning to use your credit score for a major purchase in the near future. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of resolving Bonneville Collections in three simple steps. Whether you’re wondering what Bonneville Collections is, concerned about its legitimacy, or looking for ways to pay online, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a closer look at how you can address Bonneville Collections and work towards improving your credit score.
What is Bonneville Collections
If you’ve received a call or letter from Bonneville Collections, you might be wondering who they are and what they do. Bonneville Collections is a third-party debt collection agency that has been collecting consumer debts nationwide since 1980. Despite Bonneville’s aggressive collection methods, the agency is not a scam. It collects debt for businesses in multiple industries, including banking, commercial, financial services, government, healthcare, and utility such as Portland General Electric.
If Bonneville Collections is contacting you, they are likely claiming you owe a debt they would have bought from a creditor for pennies on the dollar. However, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Bonneville Debt Collections has a history of mistreating those they collect from with over 28 complaints filed against them in the past 3 years. Their BBB profile also shows a C- Rating and is not accredited. This, along with multiple poor review, is why it is so important to validate any debt Bonneville Collections claims you owe.
A Bonneville Collection Can Hurt Your Credit Score
If Bonneville Collections reports a collection account on your credit report, it can drop your credit score by as much as 100 points. This can make it more difficult to obtain loans or credit cards. To safeguard your finances, take action to remove the negative impact of this collection account against your credit score. Follow the steps below to start improving your credit.
Step 1: Validate Your Debt
The first step to resolve your Bonneville Collections debt is to validate your debt. This is a crucial step because it ensures that the debt is indeed yours and that the amount is correct. You can do this by sending a debt validation letter within 30 days of initial contact. This can help clear up any errors in your credit report and provide proof of interactions. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you the right to request written verification of any debt being reported on your credit report. First, mail this debt validation letter template to Bonneville Collections:
Address: 6026 S. Fashion Point Drive, South Ogden, UT 84403
Phone Number: 801-621-7880 or 1-800-660-6138
Website: www.bonncoll.com
Step 2: Dispute Bonneville Collections
It’s possible this collection account contains errors. You have a right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FDCPA) to dispute the account by mailing a collection dispute letter to the credit bureaus. Disputes do NOT hurt your credit score. Instead, they can actually remove the account from your credit report if the credit bureaus find that the account is inaccurate.
To dispute a collection account from this agency, mail this free collection dispute template to each of the three credit bureaus. There’s an app for that! It’s called Cambio (us!). Download the Cambio app and we’ll take care of this dispute for you.
Step 3: Arrange a Pay-for-Delete Agreement With Bonneville Collections
The final step is to arrange a pay-for-delete agreement with Bonneville Collections. This is an agreement where you agree to pay the debt in exchange for Bonneville removing the collections account from your credit report. It’s important to handle these negotiations in writing so that there is plenty of documentation.
Use this free Pay to Delete PDF Template to do this strategy on your own. Or download Cambio today for some extra help.
Follow these best practices when negotiating a “Pay for delete” with a collections agency:
– Only agree to payments you are certain you can afford
– Don’t admit ownership of the debt
– Obtain a written agreement that the account will be removed from your credit report before making payments. Otherwise, the collection agency has no obligation to remove the account.
How to Use Cambio to Dispute or Negotiate a Pay to Delete for Bonneville Collections
Cambio is a mobile app that can help you remove negative items from your credit report and improve your score. You can use Cambio to monitor and dispute collection accounts, negotiate pay to delete agreements, and more. Download today for a free credit analysis
What to Do If Collection Agencies Violate Your Rights
Remember, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires Bonneville to treat people respectfully during the collections process and adhere to guidelines in its communication practices. So, if you’re asking, “Is Bonneville Collections legit?” the answer is yes. However, it’s crucial to know your rights and take the right steps to resolve your debt. If they violate your rights under this law, you can report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or file a complaint at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Make sure you know your rights and how to protect yourself from illegal collection practices.
Conclusion
Resolving a collection account and improving your credit doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. By understanding your rights, gathering information, negotiating a settlement or payment plan, and monitoring your credit, you can take control of your financial situation. Remember to remain calm, be assertive, and flex your rights!
