Getting papers from debt collector?

Question

Do the dept collectors legally have to show documentation of when the debt you have was made? My husband and I just pulled our credit and found a debt from 2004, and the dept collector is saying that he does not have to show me when the dept was made. Is this right? My husband and I dont have a problem paying it, but we are trying to buy a house and the mortgage company is wanting a letter showing that is not from this year that is from a while ago.

Answer 1

You can request that the debt collector verify the actual past due account and the verification must be in writing.  Check your rights in the following brochure (page 11 has the verification info.)

Answer 2

What country or state you live in might make a difference.  However, in Canada, if a creditor takes action against you for a debt, the summons issued will state the nature of the debt and the amount of the claim.  A summons often takes the form of a Small Claims Court summons.  Because most legal proceedings are costlier than serious letters, debt collectors prefer to only resort to curt action when absolutely necessary.

A lot of overlap would exist in this regard in the United States.