Expert advice please/ Collection

Hi everyone, I was a regular here until the summer ended and I became immersed in my educational studies. I am back with a problem that I hope someone can help me with


A year and a half ago, my husband allowed a department store credit card to charge off. Over the summer I became a creditnetter and began writng letters to the store saying that he was willing to pay the debt in full if we could negociate a better credit rating.(I signed his name)

I had heard nothing from them until today.

Apparently they have decided to send or sell the debt to a collection agency. I feared this would happen. How should I go about handling this situation?

Questions-How can I tell if this a a legitimate agency and not one who simply looked at my husbands credit report and saw a debt, since the department store never contacted us?

Is it a waste of time to contact the original creditor?

Should I contact the collection agency and how (write/call)?

Can the collection agency get a better credit rating for him?

Thank you I just want to go about this properly. The debt is close to $4,000. sincerely Diane143

 

here is an except from the collection letter that may help

" Unless you notify this office within 30 days after recieving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt to be vaild. If you notify this office in writing within 30 days from recieving this notice, this office will: obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of a judgement and mail you a copy of such judgement or verification. If you request this office in writing within 30 days after recieving this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor if different from the current creditor"

BTW- There is a hard inquiry on my husbands CR from them. thanks Diane