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How to Resolve Debt with The Bureaus, Inc.

Chloe Meltzer | August 05, 2024

Chloe-Meltzer
Legal Expert
Chloe Meltzer, MA

Chloe Meltzer is an experienced content writer specializing in legal content creation. She holds a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, complemented by a Master’s in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: To settle debt with The Bureaus, Inc. you should respond to any pending lawsuits, send an offer to settle, negotiate until you reach an agreement, and get the agreement in writing.

There is not much that is worse than being on the end of a debt lawsuit. But this is all too common with most Americans carrying some form of personal debt. Although it may feel in control at first, eventually it can overwhelm you.

Once you receive a letter in the mail in the form of a summons and complaint, it means you are being sued for debt. Although you might be worried that you are being sued by a company such as Bureaus Investment Group it is possible to resolve debt with them. You simply need to know your rights and know how to respond properly.

Settle debt with The Bureaus, Inc.

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What is The Bureaus, Inc?

The Bureaus, Inc., also known as Bureaus Investment Group, is a collection agency that works on behalf of a creditor to collect an unpaid debt. Located in Evanston, Illinois, established in 1997, it operates a nationwide debt collection business. They specialize in buying portfolios of consumer debts for low prices, in which they then attempt to collect the full amount.

Typically Bureaus Investment Group collects on credit card bills, medical bills, student loans, and mortgages. Although there are laws to protect you as a consumer, debt collectors often fail to uphold such laws when trying to get consumers to pay the full amount owing. This collection agency has been sued multiple times for violating the FDCPA and has been the subject of more than 1,000 complaints on the CFPB's consumer complaint databse and another 200+ complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

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The Bureaus, Inc. must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, also known as the FDCPA, was originally enacted to protect consumers from abusive practices by third-party debt collectors. This law protects consumers from the following:

  • Using obscene or abusive language
  • Calling before 8 am or after 9 pm
  • Harassing through phone calls
  • Not identifying themselves as a debt collector
  • Threatening arrest or physical harm if you do not repay the debt
  • Sharing the debt with anyone other than your spouse or co-signer
  • Calling at work when it is known that it is not allowed
  • Claiming to be an officer of the law or attorney

So, whenever The Bureaus, Inc. contacts you about a debt, they must abide by these rules and more. Learn more about common FDCPA violations that debt collectors commit.

How to handle a debt collection lawsuit

If you're being sued by a debt collector like The Bureaus, Inc., don't panic and definitely don't ignore it. Be sure to file a written Answer into the court case and stand up for your rights. Keep reading to learn more.

Respond to the lawsuit

The most common mistake that debtors make when being sued is ignoring the notice. Because it usually arrives in the mail, it can be easy to set it aside and ignore it. Especially if you cannot pay it, you may feel that there is nothing you can do. If you do not respond then you will automatically allow the collections agency to have a default judgment against you. This means that they can go into your bank accounts and pull out money, or garnish wages from each check. Eventually, they may even be able to add attorney's fees, court costs, or interest to your balance. This is why you must respond.

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Challenge the legal right to sue

By the time Bureaus Investment Group has obtained your debt, it has most likely been sold a few times. So, if you challenge their legal right to take legal action to pursue the debt, they must produce evidence in court that proces the debt is owed, valid, and they have the rights to sue. Filing an Answer ensures your right to ask for such proof. If you do not respond, then you do not have the chance to ask for proof of the following:

  • Credit agreement signed by you
  • Chain of custody of paperwork
  • Your responsibility for the debt
  • Legal right to sue
  • How much you owe

Ask for proof of the debt

In many cases, a great defense is to force the creditor to provide proof that the debt is yours. This means that they can show that the balance was increased when you made purchases, or if it was increased through fees and other charges. They also need to prove that the balance is accurate and reflects all previous payments and adjustments. If they are unable to do so, this can lead to dismissal of the lawsuit, or a settlement at a lower rate.

Check the statute of limitations

The statutes of limitations govern how long creditors may legally sue you for a debt. Each state has different rules, but in most states, it will range from two to six years. The State of New York is unique in which there are 20 years to bring forward a debt lawsuit.

What is most important to understand about the statute of limitations is that the period it begins is on the last day you were active on the account. Activity is defined as drawing funds or using a credit card. It might also be making any type of small payment, so it is essential to avoid this.

For example, some agencies use efforts to collect extremely small pieces of debt. Although you might think this buys you time, instead, it restarts the timeline for them to sue you later.

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Countersue

As mentioned before, debt collectors that violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act may be required to pay your legal fees, but it can also help get your lawsuit dropped. If the creditor has violated the FDCPA, you must bring this as a countersuit. If they have engaged in violations this is the best opportunity to get your money back, or more.

Should you file bankruptcy?

If you are in a bad financial situation you might consider bankruptcy. Although this should not be a tactic used if you are only struggling with one debt, it will wipe your debt clean. Filing a petition of bankruptcy means that an automatic stay occurs. This leads to all collection activity stopping while it is handled. This might seem like the easy way out, but there are major ramifications both financially and to your credit. The only reason bankruptcy should be used is if you are overwhelmed with debt and truly think that there is no way out.

Make the right choice for you

Only you know your situation. When you are looking into whether you would like to countersue, declare bankruptcy, or simply respond, you must weigh all of your options. Just remember, your credit follows you for the rest of your life, so handle it as soon as possible.

Settle debt with The Bureaus, Inc. with these three steps

Wanna know how to settle debt with The Bureaus, Inc.? Look no further. Follow these three steps:

  1. File an Answer into the lawsuit. If you're being sued, be sure to file an Answer into your case. If you ignore the case, The Bureaus, Inc. can request a default judgment. You want to avoid a judgment at all costs so you can have a better chance of settling outside of court. If you haven't been sued, you can skip to step #2.
  2. Make a realistic offer. "Realistic" varies depending on your financial situation and the details of the debt and case. As a rule of thumb, you start with a low offer to give yourself room to grow. Your initial offer shouldn't be the absolute maximum you can afford to settle, but it should still be a fair offer. 40%-60% is a good place to start when negotiating with collectors like Bureaus Investment Group.
  3. Get the agreement in writing. Don't be surprised if The Bureaus, Inc. rejects your initial offer. It may take some negotiating, but once you've come to an agreement, be sure to get it in writing. This is known as a debt settlement agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of the settlement and declares the case dismissed upon settling. File this document with the court and keep a copy for your records.

Watch the following video to learn more about these three steps and how to settle debt with The Bureaus, Inc.

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Make an Offer

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

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