How long can this phone bill stay on my credit report, the original balance is from 1999?

Question

The original creditor was ATT and now the creditor is CSC Credit Solutions Corp. (the same company that owns my credit file). I have disputed the amount with the credit reporting agency because the balance is incorrect ($700 more)and because the bill is older than 8 years. After filing the dispute CSC calls me the same day and says that the amount has been verified and that I need to pay them that same day.I'm disabled and being harrassed constantly by CSC and then today I find out that CSC and another collection agency is trying to collect on this same debt. Also, I have another phone bill that shows on my credit report that has been charged off, the collection agency wanted me to pay this bill too. I'm not sure what charged off means. I appreciate any advice on this. I'm trying to repair my credit.

Answer 1

Derogatory items age off your credit report 7-1/2 years after the date of first deficiency.  This is per the FCRA and nothing restarts that clock.  Dispute the item with the credit bureaus as being beyond the 7 year reporting period.   Point out that the collection agency is illegally re-aging the debt.

An 8 year old phone bill is probably beyond the Statute of Limitations (SOL), the timeframe to bring lawsuit.  Check your state:  http://www.bcsalliance.com/statute_of_li...  There are a few states, like Ohio, that have very long SOL.

Send the collection agency a certified, return reciept letter telling them to cease and desist all contact.  The debt is beyond the SOL and the 7 year reporting period.  They have to stop.  But they will probably sell the debt to another zombie collection agency.  Just sent the new collector another cease and desist letter.  Don't talk to them on the phone at all.

Charge off means the original creditor deemed the account uncollectible and wrote  it off their books.  How old is this debt?  And is it the same collection agency or a different one?

If it's a newer debt and a different collection agency, you may want to send them a letter offering pay for delete.  You pay $x and they delete the item from your credit report.  You can probably settle for 25% to 50%.

Ask that an authorized agent sign and return a copy of your letter indicating acceptance of the settlement.  Put lines at the bottom for signature, date, and print name.  When you get a signed copy, send them a money order.  Don't give them direct access to your bank account.

Answer 2

It sounds like you have not received anything back from the credit bureau on your dispute yet. Just because the collection agency tells you it is verified doesn't mean they are telling you the truth.

Wait and see if you hear back from the credit bureau on it before you do anything else on that debt. It sounds like something shady is going on...especially if you are sure you have two agencies trying to collect on one debt.

While you are waiting for the bureau to get back to you, send them the sample debt validation letter cited in my sources. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested. That will stop the calls temporarily or permanently, depending on your circumstances...and if it doesn't, wait until they contact you about the debt without validating 5 times. Then go hire an attorney and sue them for $5000.00.

The phone bill charge off means that you never paid the debt and the phone company wrote off the amount instead of carrying it on their books. The account is now closed with them. You can dispute that account with the bureaus too and see if they respond. If they don't, it falls off in 30-45 days.

If they answer the dispute, send them the letter cited as my source. It is called a pay for deletion agreement. You agree to pay them and in exchange for that the phone company agrees to remove the account. That is a win-win if they'll agree to it.

If they won't take a PFD agreement, then you can wait, negotiate a settlement, or just not pay and see if they sue you for it.

And of course you can always try to dispute and negotiate later if you decide to wait.

And for what its worth, the statute of limitations is separate from the time an account may be listed on your credit report. The SOL for Michigan appears to be 6 years, but you may have tolled it or extended it depending on your payment history and communications.

on edit:

Stay off the phone with these vultures.

Answer 3

First, send CSC a letter stating you would like them to cease and desist all further communications with you.  The next time they call or write to you, you can sue them for violation of the FDCPA.

Second, the statute of limitations varies by state, but 8 years is beyond the SOL anywhere I believe.  A credit reporting agency cannot report on a debt older than 7 years.

Charged off just means the original company gave up on trying to collect, so passed it on to a third party collector.

Visit the forums at www.creditnet.com.  This is what I used to repair my own credit.