Neither a 609 nor a traditional dispute letter will remove negative items like late payments, bankruptcy or loan defaults from your credit report. Nor will it eliminate existing debt that you cannot ...

If you can't pay the full balance owed but want to resolve the debt, negotiating a settlement for less than the total amount ...

If you find yourself facing debt collection, what you say—or don’t say—can have a significant impact on your financial situation.

If the contact comes from a legitimate debt collection agency, but the debt doesn’t belong to you, dispute that you owe the debt.

Board members encouraged families to call nutrition services if facing a hardship in paying meal balances so agency debt collection isn't needed.

Debt collectors must prove a few key things before they can collect. Here's what they ask for — and why it matters.

Learn what a 609 dispute letter is, how it can help remove errors from your credit report and the steps to write an effective letter.

The Better Business Bureau says both the rental car and debt collection businesses in the letter are real, but the letter is fake.

The timeline for a debt dispute resolution can play a big role in getting rid of your collection debt. Getty Images If you've received a call or a letter from a debt collector claiming you owe ...