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Virginia Collections Questions & Answers
0 Answers | Asked in Collections for Virginia on
Q: Is a law firm authorized to collect a one-time payment for an outstanding CC debt that is lower than the debt owed?

I recently got a Warrant in Debt for an outstanding credit card balance that I owe on a Discover card. The debt is approx. 1 year old. Due to financial issues, I chose to prioritize other bills/payments and let the balance go unpaid. My credit score has finally reached a place where I am able to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law, Collections and Communications Law for Virginia on
Q: How can I dispute personal property taxes for a car that wasn’t registered at all during that time?

A lien was placed on my bank account for personal pretty taxes, to which the communication was sent to an address I am not associated with at all so I had no knowledge of the lien being placed against me.

The car also hasn’t been registered in VA since 2022 and was unregistered for two... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Oct 7, 2024

To dispute the personal property taxes, you need to gather all relevant documentation that shows the vehicle was not registered during the period in question. This could include proof of non-registration, your current residence outside Virginia, and any relevant records showing the car was not in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Virginia on
Q: I have a credit card debt sold to midland credit management (MCM), set up payment arrangement, still seeking judgement.

As stated above, today I set up a payment arrangement with MCM and at the end I said I would still show up to the court date to ensure the case dismissed since we made this arrangement and they advised they would still seek judgement against me incase I defaulted so they could garnish me without... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Sep 24, 2024

None. You are misapprehending what the payment plan does. There's no need to go to Court as long as the stipulation you executed is filed with the Court beforehand. The stipulation controls the lawsuit from here on out. As long as you stick to it, the litigation stops and when you complete the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Virginia on
Q: I have a cofessed judgement against a small business owner who owes me over $115 K. The owner is in default. I

I like to know if there is a way to collect from the small business owner.

Steven Krieger
Steven Krieger
answered on Sep 8, 2024

Yes, you can collect, but you first have to confess the judgment to the clerk if you haven't already done that. Then, you can start the involuntary collection efforts like garnishing wages or bank accounts or levying personal property. I'm sure anyone who responds would be happy to help... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Collections and Medical Malpractice for Virginia on
Q: I just won a default judgement on a lawsuit in Circuit Court. How do I go about getting what I sued for (Money)

It was a Medical Malpractice case. They did not respond in time.

David Ratz
David Ratz
answered on Aug 9, 2024

Now that you have a judgement entered against the medical entity or person, you are considered a judgment creditor. You may wish to contact an attorney that handles creditor rights/collection. There are several ways that you can try and collect on your judgment depending on who your judgment is... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Collections and Education Law for Virginia on
Q: What legal action can be taken if a university withholds a graduated student degree and transcripts due to their error?

The student received an email from the school student accounts and financial aid office the account was paid in full for the last semester before graduation. The student checked in with the registrar's office and student account office before graduation which confirmed the account was in good... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Jun 23, 2024

Pay the balance. Get the transcripts. Sue the school for the money after the fact. Problem solved. Otherwise, you wrangle around in a legal pit and you still don't get the transcripts.

Or, get off the internet and retain an attorney to advocate to the school on your behalf. Sometimes...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Do I notify a debt collector of who the executor is if it isn’t me if they haven’t asked but are sending me letters?

My wife was the POA for her eldest sister who was in a nursing home in Kentucky for 9 months before her death in 2022. Her other sister is the executor. I do not believe that she has settled the estate but there are no assets. Apparently Medicaid must have been denied because we are getting... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on May 2, 2024

You have no obligation to cooperate or provide any information in response to their demand letters. If they are a "bill collector" under the statute, they must cease contact when you demand that, and they may not continue contact just to harass you. That means that they have no choice but... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections and Civil Litigation for Virginia on
Q: How do I collect fees owed me from an attorney who won't pay? (Virginia)

I worked as an expert witness for an attorney. His client disagreed with my expert report and refused to pay the lawyer who retained me. He says he can't pay me unless he sues the client for payment, which he doesn't what to do.

Can I complain to the Virginia Bar? Or is a civil... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Apr 10, 2024

Typically, when an attorney hires an expert witness, he is hiring the expert for a particular litigation matter for a specific client. Unless the expert and the attorney expressly agree otherwise, the attorney is acting as an agent for the client whose identity is usually disclosed to the expert... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Collections for Virginia on
Q: 10 yr collection from a car accident (I was 16yo). Pay $17,000+ in order to get my license reinstated. Can I fight this?

I was involved in a minor accident at 16 with permit. No injuries or emt required on site. Afterwards, get a letter stating license suspended until payment of $14,000 to GEICO. 10 years have passed and total is now $17,000+. I feel this is unacceptable to ask being that I was a minor and a... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Jan 11, 2024

The law is that if you cause an accident, you have to pay or face license suspension. The fact that you were a minor, or that you have kids, or you were a student has no bearing on anything. You didn't get a letter - you received a copy of a judgment. The judgment is now 10 years old, and now... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for Virginia on
Q: My question is about who's responsible for a debt related to the sale/purchase of a house in Virginia.

My wife and I bought our house in June 2022, and provided a check for the remaining propane ($750) which should have been given to the sellers. The seller's attorney misplaced the check and is now saying, almost 18 months later, that it's our responsibility to remedy the situation by... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Nov 21, 2023

The question is whether the check cleared your bank. If it did not, you never paid the debt. If it didn't clear, you still owe the money.

1 Answer | Asked in Products Liability, Collections, Insurance Bad Faith and Insurance Defense for Virginia on
Q: What should I do, enterprise wants me to pay them 14000 for damages to a vehicle I wrecked in Mexico a year ago.

Got into an accident in my truck.

Insurance paid for a rental car.

I went to Mexico in the enterprise rental car.

Got into an accident.

Enterprise had the vehicle transported to El Paso, Texas.

Enterprise tried to bill my insurance company, they denied the... View More

Joel Gary Selik
Joel Gary Selik
answered on Jul 25, 2023

Among other issues, what may be relevant is why your insurance company denied the claim.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for Virginia on
Q: salemans modified cancelled contract, forged name, then file with collections agency..what options to stop collections

A salesman came to my son's home Nov 29th, demonstrated vacuum cleaner. Purchased, signed contract...had 3 days to cancel contract. Dec 1st he cancelled contract, salesman came picked up vacuum and took all paperwork including his copy of the contract stating he didn't need it anymore.... View More

Maria T Patente
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answered on Mar 20, 2023

Yes, your son could pursue a private right of action under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. In these cases, any intentional or willful actions that violate the act enable the Plaintiff to recover treble (triple) the damages and attorney fees. The Virginia Consumer Protection Act creates a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Can a debt collection agency imply that I obtained a payday loan from several years ago with FRAUD

I never received the 1st notice, I only received the 2nd notice, and the notice says that the debt was incurred several years ago, and that because my check came back as NSF, that i INTENDED TO DEFRAUD, the payday loan company. Add on i sent them a DEBT VALIDATION LETTER on the 21st of February,... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 2, 2023

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors are prohibited from using false, deceptive, or misleading statements in an attempt to collect a debt. Implying that you obtained a payday loan with fraud, without evidence to support that claim, could be considered a violation of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Collections for Virginia on
Q: How enforceable is a contract that was signed in Alabama but in confusing agreement, states it is signed in VA

I set up a contract unknowingly that forces me to travel to VA to defend and the provess is over-bearing

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Jan 16, 2023

Without being able to read the contract, which we cannot do in this forum, nobody can give you an answer except that you should take the document to a local attorney to determine its enforceability. The likelihood is small that a mistake like that would render the contract unenforceable.

2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy, Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Is there a statute of limitations on credit card debt?

I was contacted by a law group saying I owed on an old credit card debt. They're saying the last time they tried to contact me was 2016 from a card I obtained before 2010. It was a JCPenny store card. They're threatening garnishment. I paid off all my debts before I purchased my home in... View More

James H. Wilson Jr.
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James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Dec 9, 2022

Credit card lawsuits typically involve two different jurisdictions - the issuer's home state and the borrower's home state, and the shorter of the two may apply in Virginia. In Virginia Code Section 8.01- 232, there are three conditions on the enforceability of a waiver of the right to... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Can I be sued for damages without any receipts that the plaintiff paid that money.

My landlord is suing me for damages. I received my bill of particulars but only estimates no receipts can the judge rule in the plaintiff's favor without any proof that is what she paid?

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Sep 29, 2022

You have to defend the lawsuit. If you allow a default to be entered, you're done.

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Virginia on
Q: My father passed away he owes land tax now the county gonna take to court what do I do?

He left me his property and I have a will county transfered it to a lawyer and is threatening to sale property

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Sep 18, 2022

Probably pay the land tax.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Collections for Virginia on
Q: I am being sued for money a company said I owed from 2014. I received letter from their lawyer. What should I do?

I owned an LLC that sold flooring for a company from 2011 thru 2014. I told the owner I was starting another LLC and would not be working for them full time, but I would still help them. The owner was very rude and threatened to sue me for jobs they installed for me. I could not afford a lawsuit so... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Sep 11, 2022

Well, did you get a letter or were you served a complaint? There's a big difference; if it's just a letter then you haven't been sued. In anybevent, hire a lawyer. Defending a lawsuit isn't as easy as saying "I don't owe him any money".

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Business Law and Collections for Virginia on
Q: Should I write a letter of demand first, or should I hire an attorney and sue the other party?

In October 2017, I signed a stock transfer agreement and I became a shareholder of a restaurant in Virginia.

In November 2019 I ended the agreement (verbally). My business partner (majority shareholder) and I sat down and we calculated what he owes me on a simple piece of paper. This... View More

Steven Krieger
Steven Krieger
answered on Jun 28, 2022

You can do a letter or a lawsuit. You know your former business partner better than an attorney, so if you think the partner would be motivated o resolve if sent a letter then that's the way to go. If you think the partner would ignore the letter, then litigation is the way to go. I'm... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Collections and Small Claims for Virginia on
Q: Can the other women sue for $10k she gave my husband during their affair?

No written exchanges about the money. When he broke it off he asked her about it and she replied “I don’t give a f***” now after some stalking on her part she filed a warrant in debt for it. Does she have a case ?

Steven Krieger
Steven Krieger
answered on Jun 13, 2022

It really depends on what was the basis of giving the $10,000 or the agreement (even if verbal) around the money. If it was really a gift, then your husband should be able to successfully defend the lawsuit. If you or he decides to hire an attorney, I'm sure anyone who responds would be happy... View More

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