I have a collection agency calling my on my former last name from a bill in 1994?

Question

This place says it is a bill from 1994 - this is news to me - how long can they try and collect on this - I am not even sure it is mine!

Answer 1

after 7 years thy can't do anything about it tell them to stop calling and write you a letter about it

Answer 2

they can collect till its paid in full.

Maybe contact them and dispute it however you have 30 days to do so

Answer 3

they only have 4 years to collect on a debt the best thing to do is when they call you tell them they past their statue of limitaitons and if they call you again it will be considered harassment and its against the FDCPA laws then you will sue them if the call continue.... they are only trying to collect to get money but by law they can only continue if You do not Specify to them they canno longer collect.. ALOT of people dont know this that is why collectors keep bugging because people dont know collection laws

Answer 4

Look up the statute of limitations in your state....also do not make any payments on this bill because it will override the statue of limitations...

I had a similar problem a few years ago and used the sample letter on this website ( http://www.expertlaw.com/library/consume...  )

I used teh second sample letter and the debt collections left me alone and also dropped everything...It has been an additional 5 years since I have gone through this and there is nothing on my credit.....

Good Luck

Answer 5

Dispute it.

Answer 6

The laws vary by state but the statute of limitations for credit reporting (7 years) is NOT the same as debt collection. That SOL is 4 years, usually, but CAN be reset by any number of things. Even admitting the debt is yours, even if you are not the one who admitted it, can reset the clock.  In this case you need to send a certified letter to that colleciton agency and demand prooff the debt is valid. If they do nto respond within 30 days then legally there is nothing they can do.  Chances are they are meerely trying to intimidate you into paying an ancient debt, which is probably no longer valid, with the assumption that you do not understand the law.  These sleazy outfits do it every day.

Answer 7

A derogatory item can stay on your credit report for 7-1/2 years from the date of first deficiency.  This is per the FCRA and nothing restarts this clock.

The Statute of Limitations (SOL), the timeframe to bring lawsuit, varies from state to state:  http://www.bcsalliance.com/statute_of_li...  Typically the clock starts from the last activity or last payment.  Making payment will restart the clock.  In some states even acknowledging the debt will restart the SOL.

Even if the debt is beyond the 7 year reporting period and the SOL, collectors can still try to collect the debt.  They can hound you to the grave.

In this case, it is likely that this 14 year old debt is beyond the SOL.  I suggest you send the collection agency a certified, return receipt letter telling them to cease and desist all contact as you don't recognize the debt and it is far beyond the SOL.

They will probably sell the debt to another zombie debt collector.  If you are contacted by a new collector, just send another cease and desist.

You may want to check your credit report (AnnualCreditReport.com) to make sure they haven't tried to put the item on your credit file.  If it's there, dispute it as not years and beyond the reporting period.

Answer 8

I'm sure the SOL ran out by now. Do not call or send any letters because i'll be a waste of time. If they call, just hang up. If they continue to call and they have a toll free # , then it's time to play their game and start calling them every 20 minutes unless they get tried of the calls.

Answer 9

It all depends on the State you live in. If you are not sure it is yours you can contact them and tell them you want in writing the original documents with your signature. Beware if you do this and it is yours then the time to collect will start all over.