Summary: This article outlines how to remove West Central Texas Collection Bureau (WCTCB) from your credit report.
A phone call or letter from WCTCB could mean that you have an outstanding debt and West Central Texas Collection Bureau (WCTCB) is attempting to collect on the debt.
More than likely, WCTCB purchased the collection for pennies on the dollar in order to collect the full debt balance from you in order to turn a profit.
It’s important that you don’t ignore WCTCB because a collection account on your credit report can have a significant negative impact on your credit score.
Let’s get into how to deal with WCTCB.
What is WCTCB?
Founded in 2009, WCTCB is a debt collection agency headquartered in Abilene, TX.
WCTCB specializes in delinquent consumer debt and have a companion division called Premium Recovery, which specializes in collecting past due commercial debts.
WCTCB Contact Information
Address:
1133 N 2nd St, Abilene, TX 79601
Phone Number:
(325) 673-7831
How to Remove WCTCB From Your Credit Report
There are 3 primary ways to remove WCTCB from your credit report. The first two methods are do-it-yourself methods, and the last method is to hire a credit repair company to help you remove the collection account.
Which method you use depends on how quickly you need the collection removed from your credit report. Generally, a reputable credit repair company will be able to remove negative items such as collections, charge offs, and late payments quicker than you can if you deal directly with the debt collector.
Debt Validation
The first technique you should try is called “debt validation”. Debt validation basically requests that they verify that the debt they are attempting to collect on is actually valid and belongs to you.
You can request debt validation by writing them a letter. This letter should demand that they verify (with proof) that the debt is indeed yours and you actually owe the amount they are attempting to collect.
You have with 30 days from the initial time they contacted you. If it’s past 30 days, you can no longer request debt validation.
They have 30 days once they receive your letter to respond with valid proof that the debt collection belongs to you, and the information they have pertaining to the debt is in fact accurate.
If they are unable to validate the debt, they must cease debt collection and remove the collection from your credit report.
Pay-for-Delete
Perhaps the debt validation method won’t work for you because it’s been more than 30 days since WCTCB first contacted you.
In this case, you can employ the “pay-for-delete” method. With this technique, you will simply contact WCTCB and offer to pay the debt (either in full or partially) if, in exchange, they agree to remove the debt collection account from your credit report.
It’s extremely important when using this method that you get written confirmation. Any negotiations with debt collectors must be in writing.
In addition, the older the collection, the more likely WCTCB will accept less than the full balance owed. In other words, if the debt collection is rather new, you. may have a difficult time negotiating a lower amount.
Hire Professional
Lastly, you should consider hiring a professional credit repair company if you simply don’t have the time (or desire) to deal with collection agencies.
The credit repair company that we recommend is Lexington Law. They’ll take care of you.
You can give them a call at 1-844-331-6062 or Check out our review of their service.
How to Deal with WCTCB
When dealing with any debt collector such as WCTCB, you should never do any negotiation over the phone. Rather, you should inform them that you will only communicate with them via e-mail or snail mail.
This is the best way to ensure that they don’t go back on their word after you have made a deal.
Once you have informed WCTCB that you will only communicate over mail or e-mail, you should simply block their phone number on your cellphone.
Should I Contact or Pay WCTCB?
Generally it’s not a good idea to contact or pay any debt collector before you have a game plan lined up. And again, don’t do any negotiating over the phone.
They might try and convince you that if you pay the debt they are attempting to collect, it will improve your credit score. This is not true.
A paid collection will harm your credit score just as an unpaid collection hurts your credit score. If you plan on paying the debt, you should use the “pay-for-delete” method outlined above.
Protect Yourself Against WCTCB Debt Collectors
It’s important to have a good understanding of your rights before you engage with a collection agency. These rights are outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents debt collectors from:
- Harassing or threatening you.
- Calling you in the middle of the night.
- Contacting your friends or family.
- Attempting debt collection practices at your place of work.
Once you have a good understanding of your rights, you can avoid getting scammed.
Will WCTCB Affect My Credit Score?
Yes, a collection account (paid collection or unpaid collection) will significantly hurt your credit score. In fact, it could lower your credit score by up to 100 points.
It depends on what your credit score was before you got the collection. In short, the higher your credit score, the more it will fall with a new collection account.