I paid off a Credit card 7 years ago, closing it, now a debt collecotor is calling me on it? What can I do?

Question

This has showed up on my credit report for years as paid in full, now the account has fallen off my credit report due to time passing. I ask them to provide me proof of the bill, or a contact number for the original company and they wont. They want me to send proof that I paid it. I would have to really dig as I have been married for 5 years and no longer have the bank account I did when I paid this. I am also scared that this is a scam and scared to provide to much information.

Answer 1

This sounds like a scam to get account numbers and personal information.  Do not give them anything.  If this is a real creditor, they should have everything on file so if they lost it, it's their problem.  You've held up your end of the deal by paying it off.  It will not affect your credit bc if they cannot verify your information, they can't report it to the bureaus.

Answer 2

Get all their contact information and report them to the Attorney General of your state.  That's illegal tactics.  Tell them you are going to report them only AFTER getting the info, and also say you're considering contacting a lawyer and suing because they're using illegal tactics.

Answer 3

Tell them to send you an official letter with their claim first. Then have the firm checked out and if it is a real claim than discuss it with a lawyer or if the amount is real and you do need to pay it off, put it on a 0% apr credit card. To compare and apply online if you need one you can go to http://www.CreditCardWave.com

Answer 4

Send nothing to them and give them no information over the phone.

Get the name of the person who is calling you, ask for a supervisor and get that persons name, the name of the collection agency, a landline phone number (not 800#) and physical address, then use this information to check them out with the BBB.

They are required by law to submit proof it is your debt.

Answer 5

Just send them the following letter certified/return receipt.  This will inform them that you are aware of your rights and are not intimidated.

Just fill in your information.  I have had many people use this letter, and they no longer heard from these type of junk debt collectors.

If they don't respond in the proper manner as listed in the FDCPA within 30 days, send copies of the letter and all postal receipts to the CRA's, they will consider it unvalidated.

DATE

From: (NAME)

(ADDRESS)

(CITY, STATE, ZIP)





To: (NAME OF AGENCY)

(ADDRESS)

(CITY, STATE, ZIP)

Subj:  Verification of Debt, request for

Ref: (INSERT ACCOUNT NUMBER SHOWN ON COLLECTION NOTICE)

To whom it may concern:

This letter is to inform you that  pursuant to Title VIII, Debt Collection Practices, §  809 of the Federal Trade Commission and 15 U.S.C. § 1692g, I am hereby registering a  formal request for Verification of Debt.

The account in question listed as an installment account with (NAME OF ORIGINAL CREDITOR) opened (insert date) and  indicates an initial balance of (enter amount)  It is now currently being shown as  collection account with past due amount of (enter amount) as of (insert date).  

Unless legal proof and verification can be shown, I request you remove the derogatory entry with any credit reporting agencies that may list this debt (and any other agencies you have filed with) immediately to avoid any possible legal recourse on my behalf pursuant to 15 U.S.C.§ 1692k.

Respectfully

(NAME)

You might want to check this web site to see if they are part of the notorious junk debt collection agencies

http://www.budhibbs.com/drowning_in_debt...

Hope this answers your question

LEGAL DISCLAIMER:  The advice contained herein is for informational purposes only.  It is not to be construed as Legal Counsel nor Legal Advice.

Answer 6

I agree with the previous post - do not provide information.  

Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com (not a pay site) and they will give you the  conditions under which you can get a free copy of your credit report from all three major companies: all allow one per year for free.

Laws:

Fair Credit Report Act

Fair Debt Collections Practices Act

Answer 7

I would not provide them with any information.  If this is really an outstanding debt then it is their responsibility to show that you have not paid it.  It is not your responsibility to show that you had.  Secondly, if the debt is more than seven years old then it is most likely no longer valid.  The laws are different state to state but in most cases they have no legal recourse to force you to pay it even if it were a debt.  

Since you closed the account having paid in full it sounds like a scam to me.  Here's a link to a site that will help explain your current situation and your rights.  Based on what I've read you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/2004...

Answer 8

As others have stated above, the burden to prove the debt falls on the debt collector, not you.

Send them a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt stating:

Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting:

- written validation of this alleged debt and that said alleged debt is within the statute of limitations

- Cease all verbal communications with me about this alleged debt.

Read up on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and understand your rights:

Answer 9

Absolutelyl do not divulge any information to this would-be collector. If they insist that you owe this debt have them forward it to you in writing. If it is a valid debt then make arrangements with them immediately. If the debt is invalid do not contact the collector but dispute it with the credit bureau directly. Make sure that the 7 years is from the date of LAST activity (this may be the last payment) and not the date of default.

Answer 10

It is the the debt collector's responsibility to prove the validity of the debt. If they can't provide you with the information your requested, then you don't have to pay them a single dime.

Also I wanted to add, I was in a similar situation, and I contacted an attorney, and we sued the pants off of the debt collector for illegal practices.

Answer 11

This sounds like a scam. Don't pay them anything. Even if you never paid the debt, it sounds like it is time-barred by the statute of limitations. Call your state's attorney general's office and complain.

In the meantime, you should pull your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com and see if they are reporting it. If it is being reported, dispute it as "paid" and it should fall off.