Stop Unwanted Calls From 800-955-6600: A Step-by-Step Guide

Who Is 800-955-6600?

The phone number 800-955-6600 is for Northland Group, a legitimate debt collection agency, working on behalf of Capital One. They are not a scam caller. Their goal is to recover money for the creditor or themselves. Calls from this number are usually robocalls.

Why Is 800-955-6600 Calling Me?

Northland Group may be calling you because you missed payments on a credit card, loan, or other financial obligation. The original creditor, Capital One, either transferred or sold your debt to Northland Group or hired them to help collect the debt.

Though they believe you owe money, don’t assume their information is accurate. Errors are common in debt collection — the debt may not be yours or the amount may be incorrect. This is why it's so important to verify the debt, which we explain below.

What Are My Rights When Dealing With Northland Group?

Dealing with debt collectors like Northland can be stressful, but knowing your rights can help. The main law that protects you from harassment, deception, and unfair treatment by debt collectors is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Under this law, debt collectors aren't allowed to:

• Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time

• Talk to your friends, family, or employer about your debt (though they can contact them to figure out how to reach you)

• Use abusive or threatening language

• Refuse to provide proof of the debt

Each state also has its own laws. You can check your state's debt collection laws to find out if your state offers even stronger protections.

If you believe Northland Group has violated federal debt collection laws, you can file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you believe they've violated state laws, you can also file a complaint with your state attorney general's office.

What Should I Do if 800-955-6600 Calls Me?

If Northland Group calls you, it's best to figure out an action plan. If you don't, your credit score may decrease and you may be at risk of being sued for the debt. This can result in serious collection actions, like wage garnishment.

Most people ignore debt collection calls because they can't afford to pay the debt. If this is your financial situation, you're not alone! Even if you can't afford to pay the debt in full, you have some options.

The best place to start is by verifying the debt.

Step 1: Verify the Debt

Before you do anything else, you'll want to make sure the debt is legitimate. Many people assume they owe a debt if someone calls to collect on it, but this isn't always the case! When debts are sold to collection agencies, errors do happen. You can make sure you don't fall victim to those errors by asking for a debt validation letter. 

Northland Group and other debt collectors are required by law to provide this letter. At a minimum, it should include the following information:

• The original creditor’s name

• The amount of the debt

• Proof that Northland Group is authorized to collect the debt

If you haven’t received a validation letter within five days of their first contact, request one immediately. You can also send a debt verification letter to dispute the debt or ask for more details. If Northland Group can't verify the debt within 30 days, they must stop contacting you.

Step 2: Decide How To Respond

Once you’ve verified the debt, you can decide how you want to respond.

You can pay the debt in full if you can afford it, which is the simplest way to stop the calls and protect your credit. 

Alternatively, you can negotiate a reduced payment to settle the account, dispute the debt if it’s incorrect, or consider bankruptcy if you’re overwhelmed by debt and can’t pay it. 

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stop collection calls, help you regain financial stability, and further your financial goals.

Let's look at each option in more detail.

Pay the Debt

If the debt has been verified and you agree that you owe it, you can work toward closing the collection account with Northland Group by either paying it off in full, negotiating a debt settlement agreement, or arranging a repayment plan.

Settle the Debt

If the debt is legitimate and you owe it, you can try to settle the debt for less than the full amount. Usually, you need to be able to offer a lump-sum payment to successfully settle your debt. This can understandably be a major hurdle for folks already struggling to pay their bills.

Northland Group likely purchased your debt for pennies on the dollar, so they may accept a reduced payment. Be sure to get the settlement agreement in writing before sending any money.

While you'll find a lot of debt settlement companies online and even debt settlement attorneys, you can negotiate a debt settlement yourself. And you'll probably save a lot of money doing so, especially if you're like most Americans who have debts in collection that total $2,000 or less.

One debt settlement resource that may be helpful is SoloSettle. Upsolve partners with SoloSuit to help people get support with debt settlement without getting scammed. It's free to make a settlement offer through SoloSuit, and they're transparent about the cost should you choose to use their settlement services.

Dispute the Debt

If you believe the debt isn't accurate, isn’t yours, or was already paid, you can dispute it. The dispute process forces Northland Group to re-evaluate the debt and provide proof. Be sure to send your dispute in writing within 30 days of receiving the validation letter.

Once you send your dispute to Northland, it’s a good idea to check your credit report for errors too. You can run your report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official government website.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that creditors and debt collectors only report accurate information to the credit bureaus. So if you see inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it and have it removed. One of the most effective ways to boost your score is to dispute credit errors.

File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

If you’re receiving calls from several debt collectors and you feel like you have too much debt to ever repay, you may want to look into filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 was designed to give people a financial fresh start. It can wipe out credit card debt, medical debt, and payday loans. It can even get rid of federal student loans, but you'll need to go through an additional process to have your student debt discharged.

Upsolve has a free online tool to help people see if they qualify for Chapter 7 and complete the required paperwork. We're a nonprofit, so our services are 100% free. We've helped thousands of people get rid of $700 million in debt through bankruptcy. If you want some personalized legal advice about your case, Upsolve can connect you to a local bankruptcy lawyer for a free consultation.

What Happens if I Ignore the Calls?

Ignoring debt collection calls may seem tempting, but it’s usually not a good idea. Here’s what can happen if you don’t respond:

• Your credit score will take a hit

• You could be sued

• You may have your paycheck garnished or your bank account frozen

• You'll probably continue to feel a lot of stress

How To Stop Calls From 800-955-6600 for Good

If you’re tired of the calls from 800-955-6600, you have options to make them stop. While the debt may still exist, you can assert your rights under federal law to reduce or end the calls entirely. Here’s what you can do:

• Tell them to stop calling and assert your rights under the FDCPA

• Send a cease and desist letter

• Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry

Tell Them To Stop Calling You

The FDCPA gives you the right to tell debt collectors to stop calling you. If you’re being harassed or receiving frequent calls at inconvenient times, you can verbally or in writing request that Northland Group stop contacting you. Once they receive this request, they’re legally required to comply.

It’s best to make this request in writing using a cease and desist letter. You can use Upsolve’s free letter template to get started.

This is a formal, written request that tells the agency to stop all communication with you. After receiving this letter, they are only allowed to contact you to confirm they won’t contact you again or to notify you of legal action, like a lawsuit.

⚠️ Important: Sending a cease and desist letter won’t eliminate the debt. Northland Group could still take legal action to collect what you owe, so make sure you’re prepared to handle the debt if that happens.

Sign Up for the National Do Not Call List

While the National Do Not Call Registry doesn’t apply to debt collectors if the debt is legitimate, it’s still worth registering your phone number to stop other unwanted robocalls and telemarketing calls. You can register your phone number for free at donotcall.gov.

Though this may not stop calls from Northland Group if they’re pursuing a debt, it can help cut down on other annoying calls and give you some peace of mind.

Let’s Summarize…

Calls from 800-955-6600 can feel overwhelming, but you have options to handle them. Start by verifying the debt to ensure it’s accurate and legitimate. From there, decide whether to dispute, settle, or pay the debt. And remember, you have rights under the FDCPA to protect you from harassment or unfair treatment. By following the steps in this guide, you can stop unwanted calls from Northland Group and take control of your financial future.