According to the FDCPA, this statement must include the following to be considered valid.  The amount of the money owed. The name of the original creditor. A statement that if you don't dispute the debt within thirty days, the debt is assumed valid. A statement that if you dispute the debt within thirty days, the agency will obtain proof of the debt and send it to you. A statement that upon request, the agency will provide the name and address of the original creditor, if it differs from the current creditor. It is very important to make sure you actually owe the money the collector says you do. Though it is illegal, creditors could inflate the amount of money you owe to make a greater profit. You legally have thirty days to dispute the charge and ask for validation of the debt. Once you do so, the collector must cease pursuing you for the money until he produces proof of the original debt. The agency must provide one of the following.  Proof that they either own or have been assigned the debt from the original creditor. A copy of a statement from the original creditor. When the agency provides proof that you owe the money, you still have options. Each state has different laws on how long a debt is considered effective. These are mostly, but not universally, less than ten years. When a collection agency comes after you for outdated debt, it is known as zombie debt (Deal with Zombie Debt).  Check the date of the proof the agency provided. Then match it against the statute of limitations for debt in your state. If the date of the original debt is older than the statute of limitations, you can no longer be sued for the debt. They can call you, they can contact you, but they can't sue you or threaten you. If the agency has not provided adequate proof of your debt, their claim is not legitimate. Send a certified letter informing them that their actions are in violation of the FDCPA and you will pursue legal action if they keep trying to collect from you.

Summary: Examine the bill the agency sends you. Request validation of your debt. Check the statute of limitations on your debt. Threaten to sue if your debt is not legitimate.


To cope with feeling alone or lonely at night, find a way to entertain or distract yourself. If you truly enjoy your selected hobby, your time alone will be transformed from something you dread to something to look forward to. Consider the following activities to keep you busy:  Reading Watching television Listening to music Writing You may have a difficult time sleeping alone at night because of feeling lonely, missing the partner you used to sleep with, or hearing strange noises. To cope with sleeping alone, turn off your television, tablet, or computer about an hour before bedtime to prepare yourself for sleep. You can also make falling asleep easier by: Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and food too late in the day Avoiding stressful activities, like exercise, right before bed Keeping the room lights on low Playing soft music Using a sound machine or ear plugs to drown out other noises Keeping the room cool Using comfortable, soft bedding, like a body pillow Wearing a sleep mask or using curtains to block out light Getting up to read, take a bath, or drink hot tea if you find yourself tossing and turning Having a structured evening for yourself at home will help keep your thoughts from straying into loneliness when you’re alone at night. Having a routine can also help keep you motivated and feel fulfilled while being alone. For example, if you come home from work at 5 p.m., you can schedule time for relaxation, exercise, dinner, socialization, and perhaps a hobby before bedtime. It can be helpful to keep a regular bedtime, although a perk of being alone is that you can go to sleep whenever you want! When you live alone or are alone at night, it may feel like a waste of time to make yourself a meal and sit down at the table to eat. However, making your meals special and keeping your mealtimes consistent is a good way to ward off loneliness at night. For example, if you’re alone at night on a holiday, fix yourself the meal you typically would have had with your family or others. As you eat, you can relive special memories you have of that holiday and feel less alone. Although there may be many hardships or negatives to living alone and being alone at night, like having to take care of all the chores on your own, try not to dwell on those. Reminding yourself of the positives can help improve your state of mind. For example, being alone allows you to:  Play whatever music or television shows you want to Clean up how and when you want to Decorate your house how you want to Have silence and time to recharge the way you want to Although being alone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lonely, it’s important to recognize and accept any feelings of loneliness or sadness you may be experiencing. Examine where they are coming from. Perhaps you’re feeling lonely and alone because you’re single, newly divorced, or widowed. It’s important to express and understand these feelings so that you can then begin to feel more comfortable when you're at home by yourself.  Journal in a diary Talk with a trusted friend Seek counseling if you’re struggling with significant grief or loneliness from a loss or divorce

Summary: Entertain yourself. Cope with sleeping alone. Set a routine. Fix yourself regular meals. Remind yourself of the positives of being alone. Recognize and embrace feelings of loneliness.


Make sure the benefits will outweigh the consequences of skipping class. Know the rules at your middle school. Each school has a different absentee policy, but you will want to know what is going to happen if you skip a class before you decide to leave.  Beyond the penalty dealt by your middle school, there are effects on your likelihood of success as a student if you are a habitual skipper.  It’s possible you will get detention and have to spend more time at school. Will you be allowed to take a test later if you skip a class to miss a test? What are the consequences of turning homework in late? What will happen if your parents find out? Will this just lead to longer stints of boredom and less opportunity to hang out with friends because you’re grounded? Students who skip more than 10 days of school in a year are 20% less likely to get a high school diploma and 25% less likely to go to college. Those who do skip often feel like they are behind in their learning. Understand the truancy laws. Public schools require attendance. If you are absent and do not have a reason which falls under excused absences, you will be marked as truant. This applies even if you get a note from your parents excusing you if the excuse does not qualify to avoid truancy.  Excused absences are usually related to illnesses, a death in the family, or religious observances. Some excuses that could work are telling them you got a migraine headache and needed some quiet, you suddenly feel nauseated, you needed to call your parents. Extended absences for health reasons will often require a doctor's note. Rather than just wandering in the halls and getting caught, think of different ways you can get out of class without getting into trouble. Make sure you know what you want to do and how you want to do it before the class period you want to skip. Come up with a list of options which may work, then choose the one you think is best.  Consider going to class and asking to be released by the teacher to see the counselor, go to the bathroom, spend some time in the library, or call home. Check with the counselor and set an appointment for later in the day during the class you would like to skip. If you don’t think the teacher will let you out of class, choose a place you can hide between classes, maybe even go by these places between other class periods to see if they look like good hiding places.
Summary: Weigh the consequences. Have a good excuse. Plan in advance.