How To Deal With 11 Charter Communications
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11 Charter Communications is a legitimate debt collection agency. Its parent company is Charter Communications Inc., better known as Spectrum. If Charter Communications contacts you, you’ll first want to validate the debt. Once you verify that the debt is yours, you can choose how to deal with 11 Charter Communications. You can dispute the debt (if the information is incorrect or you disagree with the debt amount) or negotiate a settlement so you only pay a portion of the total amount.
Written by Jonathan Petts.
Updated August 21, 2024
What Is 11 Charter Communications?
11 Charter is the debt collection branch of the telecommunications company Charter Communications Inc. They collect debt on behalf of Spectrum phone and internet services. Spectrum is a popular American telecom and broadband service provider with headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
The Spectrum brand was created after Charter Communications acquired well-known brands Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
Why Is 11 Charter Communications Contacting Me?
11 Charter Communications partners with Spectrum to collect past-due accounts. If they contact you, they’re probably trying to collect a debt or overdue phone or internet bill.
Is 11 Charter Communications Legit?
Yes, 11 Charter Communications is a legitimate company.
That said, consumers have filed over 14,000 complaints against Charter Spectrum with the Better Business Bureau. The company is not accredited with the BBB, but they currently have an A+ rating. Despite this, customers rate them just 1.08 out of five stars on the BBB website. Most customer complaints* relate to billing issues and lack of customer support.
If 11 Charter Communications or another debt collection company mistreats you, you can file a complaint with the BBB or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It’s also important to know what rights you have under federal laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This law prohibits third-party debt collectors from harassing or deceiving people during their collection efforts.
*Note to reader: These reviews and complaints highlight relevant issues but may not represent all consumers’ experiences.
How Do I Know if I’m Being Scammed?
If someone contacts you claiming to be a debt collector, and they ask for personal information like your Social Security or bank account number, be wary. You have the right to ask any debt collector to validate the debt in writing. This is the best way to avoid debt collection scams.
Also be aware that credit repair companies may contact you offering to get a collections account from 11 Charter Communications off your credit report. It’s important to understand the limitations of a goodwill letter or pay-for-delete letter to get collections accounts off your credit report. To learn more, read Upsolve’s article about erasing negative items on a credit report.
Do I Have To Pay 11 Charter Communications/Spectrum?
Before you pay Spectrum anything, make sure the debt is legitimate. Ask the company to validate that the unpaid debt actually belongs to you and that the debt amount is correct.
If 11 Charter Communications can’t prove the debt is valid, you shouldn’t have to pay. If they can prove the debt is valid and yours, you probably have to pay, but you may not have to pay the full amount.
First, let’s take a look at how to verify and validate the debt.
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Step 1: Send a Debt Verification Letter
Third-party debt collectors have to send you a debt validation letter before or within five days of contacting you. If they haven’t sent you a validation letter, ask for one! This letter should confirm the details of the debt account and inform you of your right to dispute the debt within 30 days.
If you need more information or want to dispute the debt, you can send a debt verification letter.
Step 2: Decide What To Do Next
After 11 Charter Communications validates the debt, decide on your next step. You can:
Dispute the debt if you don’t believe you owe it
Pay the debt in full or offer to settle the debt for less than the full amount
Ignore the debt (while this is technically an option, this is not recommended)
Here’s more information about each option.
Option 1: Dispute the Debt
If you don’t believe you owe money on an unpaid debt with Spectrum, you can dispute the debt.
If you dispute the debt with Spectrum, it’s also a good idea to check your credit report to make sure all the information they’ve reported is accurate. If there are errors on your credit report, you can dispute them, too. Doing so can help boost your credit score.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guarantees your right to check your credit report for free from each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The FCRA also gives you the right to have inaccurate negative entries removed from your credit history. You can use Upsolve’s credit dispute letter template to get started with this process.
Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer
Many people can’t afford to pay a past-due account in full. That’s usually how it becomes a debt in the first place! If this is the case for you, consider trying to negotiate a debt settlement. Many debt collection agencies will settle debts for 40%–60% of the original amount owed.
Why? Trying to collect on past-due accounts costs them money, so they’re often motivated to close the account even if they lose out on a little bit of profit.
To learn more about negotiating a successful settlement, read Upsolve’s Guide to Beating 11 Charter Communications.
Can You Negotiate Every Past-Due Debt?
You can’t negotiate every past-due debt, but you can usually negotiate overdue credit card debt, medical bills, and personal and payday loans. Aside from taking legal action to get a court order to garnish your paycheck, creditors and debt collectors are limited in how they can collect on these past-due accounts. This is why they’re often open to negotiating the amount.
Tax debt is usually negotiable, too. The IRS has its own processes for settling past-due tax debt.
Other debts, like mortgages and car loans, aren’t typically negotiable. That’s because these debts are backed by collateral. So if you don’t make payments, the lender can take the home or car back.
Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)
If you choose to ignore the debt, you put yourself at risk of serious consequences. Ignoring the debt won’t make it disappear, and it might make your life even more stressful.
What Happens if I Ignore 11 Charter Communications?
If you don't pay the debt collector, your credit score is likely to take a hit. Plus, the debt amount may increase as interest and other fees are added on. Worst of all, you could be sued. If you don’t respond to the lawsuit or you lose against the debt collector, they can get a court order to garnish your wages.
While negative items disappear from your credit report after seven years, agencies can continue collection efforts as long as the statute of limitations hasn’t run out.
Bottom line: The best thing you can do for yourself is to take action. You can take on 11 Charter Communications and come out the other side.
Can 11 Charter Communications Sue Me?
Yes, 11 Charter Communications can take you to court for unpaid debt. This is often a last resort in the debt collection world, but it’s not uncommon. Debt collectors will consider several factors when deciding whether or not to sue, including:
Your state’s wage garnishment laws
How much you owe
If a debt collector sues you, you’ll receive a summons and complaint. A summons is a court document that notifies you of the lawsuit. The complaint outlines the debt collector’s claims against you.
It's very important to respond to the lawsuit or you risk having your paycheck garnished. If you're worried about responding on your own, but you can't afford a lawyer, you can draft a answer letter for free or a small fee using our partner SoloSuit. They've helped 234,000 people respond to debt lawsuits, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee.
Let’s Summarize…
11 Charter Communications is a legitimate debt collector that collects debt for Charter Communications Inc, which is better known as Spectrum. If this company contacts you, the first thing you need to do is validate the debt. If the debt is valid, you can choose how to proceed with 11 Charter Communications. If they sue you, it’s best to respond quickly.
