Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.
Co-Founder of SoloSuit George Simons, JD/MBA
George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.
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: LJ Ross Associates collects unpaid debts for various industries. Settle your debt by validating it, negotiating for less, and keeping all agreements in writing.
Do you have an unpaid debt and recently received a call or email from LJ Ross Associates? You may be wondering how far they can go in attempting to collect the debt. The truth is, collectors can be pretty persistent. Some may even sue you.
In this article, we'll explain why LJ Ross Associates keeps calling and how to resolve your outstanding debt with them.
Settle debt with LJ Ross Associates
You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.
LJ Ross Associates is a legitimate debt collection agency that has been in business for over 29 years. They are regularly hired by various creditors that have given up on trying to collect the unpaid amount themselves (also referred to as a "charge-off").
Find the LJ Ross Associates phone number and other contact information below:
If you are curious to learn what consumers have said about their experience with LJ Ross Associates on a debt collection matter, then take a moment to read these reviews:
LJ Ross Associates reviews are mixed online. Its Google reviews are mostly positive, but the collections agency has also been the subject of several concerns reported to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. One thing is certain: Clear and open communication with LJ Ross Associates is the best way to resolve your debt and move on with your life.
Let's look at an example of a real LJ Ross Associates review from a man named Dyan.
"I had a conversation with Michelle. She was very helpful and pleasant to talk to. We are in the process of working out a payment agreement. So hopefully we can work something out. But this company and their reps seem to be much friendlier than other companies. I will update with anything further as I deal with them more."
As you can see from this review, working with LJ Ross Associates doesn't have to be a serious pain in the neck. In fact, it can be stress-free experience when you communicate openly and use tools like SoloSettle to negotiate and settle the debt (often for less than the original amount).
Settle your debt with LJ Ross Associates
Debt settlement can benefit both you and LJ Ross Associates. You could save money on the total amount due and halt further collection activities, while JL Ross Associates will get partial payment toward your debt.
In a settlement, you offer to pay a portion of the debt’s total value. If your settlement offer is reasonable, LJ Ross Associates will likely agree to accept your lump-sum payment and release you from the remaining amount owed. Following a settlement, LJ Ross Associates will report your account settled to the credit reporting bureaus.
Your first step in a settlement is determining how much you can afford. Ideally, you’ll offer around 60% of the debt’s value. LJ Ross Associates may disagree with your offer, so prepare to negotiate. Give yourself some extra room if it demands more money.
SoloSettle, powered by Solo, is a tech-based approach to debt settlement. Our software helps you send and receive settlement offers until you reach an agreement with the collector. Once an agreement is reached, we’ll help you manage the settlement documentation and transfer your payment to the creditor or debt collector, helping you keep your financial information private and secure.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) protect consumers from unprofessional debt collection agencies. These organizations ensure debt collectors treat consumers with respect. FTC and CFPB receive complaints of mistreatment on their website or via calls when collection agencies violate the following FDCPA laws:
Contacting you after 9 p.m. or before 8 a.m.
Attempting to collect a debt that does not belong to you
Threatening legal action and arrest
Calling after you request them to stop
Lying and pretending to be lawyers
Contacting your family, friends, or coworkers about your debt
Informing LJ Ross that you know your rights and you will report them when they violate any rule will prompt them to use the proper channels to collect the debt. Report any abuse to the FTC online platform or call 877-382-4357, submit a complaint on the CFPB website, or call 855-411-2372.
Record your communications with debt collectors
To prevent any miscommunication, always record your conversations with debt collectors like LJ Ross Associates. Debt collectors prefer calling, but you can still record the conversation or take notes. This will help you keep track of any agreements, payment plans, or settled debts you discuss.
You can ask LJ Ross Associates to send all information by email or certified US Mail. This will help you avoid a LJ Ross Associates scam. Some people pose as debt collectors to try to get you to pay money, but asking for written communication will stop fraudulent debt collectors from further attempts to collect. Note that LJ Ross Associates is a legitimate collector, but you can be sure you’re talking to a real debt collector because a genuine one will follow through with more details in writing.
Do not answer questions regarding the debt
Refrain from answering any questions, even the ones that seem innocent. They should have all the details regarding your debt and not press for more information.
You could negatively impact your right to negotiate or fight the debt once you admit ownership. Instead, LJ Ross Associates representatives should allow you to ask for more details about the debt and give you time to investigate.
Request for debt validation
Account details sometimes get lost in the transition process between the original creditor and LJ Ross. There is also the possibility of identity theft, and the debt they want to collect may not belong to you. The best way to confirm the debt with LJ Ross is to send SoloSuit's Debt Validation Letter. This document requests them to provide more information regarding the debt and the creditor it belongs to. It also needs to include a statement that allows you to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the validation notice.
You should send the Debt Validation Letter within 30 days after LJ Ross first contacts you. Failure to respond within this time will result in LJ Ross declaring the debt valid, and they can sue you or enter it in your credit report.
Dispute the debt
The law allows you to dispute the debt LJ Ross Associates enters in your credit report. The first step in disputing debt is to request your credit report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have a right to receive a free copy of your credit report yearly on request. Go through the document and highlight the errors.
Next, fill out a debt dispute form, include a copy of your highlighted errors, and send it to the credit bureaus via email or certified mail. Credit bureaus should investigate with LJ Ross or your original creditor to confirm the accuracy of the dispute. They should correct the debt or remove it from your credit report if they find the errors are accurate.
Respond to a debt collection lawsuit against LJ Ross Associates
LJ Ross can pursue the debt in court if they strongly believe it is yours and has irrefutable proof. The first step is to respond to the lawsuit by sending a written Answer. This document requires LJ Ross to prove you owe the debt and its validity.
Failing to respond to a debt lawsuit will lead the court to issue a judgment against you and favor the demands stated by LJ Ross in the lawsuit. With a default judgment, LJ Ross can garnish your wages and put liens on your property. If you want to settle the debt outside the court, you can use SoloSettle to negotiate with LJ Ross and find the best way to pay off the debt.
Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.
If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.
Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.
Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.
Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.
We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.
Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.
Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.
Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.
Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.
Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.
We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.
You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.