What would you do???

Norski · 10-29-2008, 07:52 PM

In the mail yesterday, I get a letter from some collection company back east, so today on my sales trip, I pulled over to watch the sun rise and call.
The lady says you can settle up with just $55.00 bucks, now while your on the phone.
I said Waite a minute, who says I owe you money, she says well this bill go's back 11 years, I said WHAT!!!!
She says is this you, YEA, your S/S #, YEA, your phone number, I said 11 years ago, heck I don't remember 4 hours ago, let alone 11 years ago.
I told her this sounds like a scam, send me some proof, she said all she has is the ok to go after me, I said sorry I am taken, and to stop trying to scam people out of there savings.
I asked her name, she hung up???
What would you all do?????
Thanks Norski.

P/S I did hook and released a native steel head this morning.

"O Yea, I have never had service's with AT&T, SCAM, Heads----UP.

baitsauce · 10-29-2008, 07:56 PM

Just ignore them. Or if you do ever happen to talk to them again, tell them to go pound sand.

joeyjosef · 10-29-2008, 08:07 PM

Absolutely DONT ignore it! Any collection agency that is legit MUST provide you with PROOF that you owe a debt.
That's number one. If you get them on the phone again, remind this person that it is their legal obligation to provide that proof. Also, get an account #, their contact info, all that jazz.

Number two is......some of these collection people are jerks and they will act like total A-holes and they will hang up on you. And they can STILL come after you. Just b/c they act like butt heads would not make a ligitimate debt dissappear. Point is, their behavior should not be the main indicator to you of wether this is a scam or not.

Also, some bad debt gets sold OVER AND OVER AND OVER....and not every owner of bad debt will attempt to collect. That may be why its 11 years old and you havent heard anything.

Find out what state the debt supposedly occured in. Each state has a different statute of limitations on debt collection. Wether its legit or not, if they didnt try to sue for the debt before the SOL was up, they are out of luck.

Dont ignore it....until they fail to provide proof...then ignore it. Also, check your credit report for dings that they have recently placed on their....check out your soft AND hard checks.......

duckboy · 10-29-2008, 08:14 PM

Tell them that your associates at the FBI have a full payment waiting for them at the nearest office.

All they have to do is drop by to pick it up

Jsail · 10-29-2008, 08:16 PM

You say she had your SS#? Be nice, play her game a bit and get as much info about her as possible. Play dumb, ask her to send you a bill with the info. Talk to your bank, they can give you all the information you need to report this scum.

Dave G · 10-29-2008, 08:37 PM

It is a scam.

Scammer: Hello I am with Acme collections, you owe a past due bill of $55.

Scamee: I do, with who?

Scammer: We bought the collection list from Ace Collections, I do not know the business name, it is coded Hardware. Did you have a Acme Depot card or a AcmeMart card or a... or a... or a ....?

Scamee: Yes I did from a while ago.

Scammer: It could be that, the past due amount is from 11 years ago. Look, it is $55, that is easy. We are doing a heavy close out for the year, send the check to our address and we will take you off the list and keep you credit intact.

How many gullible consumers would pay that just to avoid the aggravation?

veilside180sx · 10-29-2008, 09:06 PM

For starters I'd pull your credit from annualcreditreport.com if you have not already. If you see the collection on there, go from there...if not...then you are not obligated to do anything.

If you truly did owe them money, they would've taken the time to get the collection on your credit report.

Fishingfanatic · 10-29-2008, 09:09 PM

She knew your SS number???

Quote:

Originally Posted by veilside180sx

For starters I'd pull your credit from annualcreditreport.com if you have not already. If you see the collection on there, go from there...if not...then you are not obligated to do anything.

If you truly did owe them money, they would've taken the time to get the collection on your credit report.

fish_on · 10-29-2008, 09:17 PM

#1 11 years ago is past the statue of limitations on debt collection. Even if you did have the debt 11 years ago they can no longer collect and can't have it on your credit report. If they did list it, you can dispute it. If they won't take it off and it's that old you have them by the short hairs.

Occidental · 10-29-2008, 09:37 PM

For anything regarding personal finance, especially potential scams, I always consult clarkhoward.com
He has the best most up to date info on how to deal with these dirtbags.

fishkisser · 10-29-2008, 10:10 PM

Its pretty disturbing that She knew your social security # ... That would have freaked Me out ...

Beachbum · 10-29-2008, 10:37 PM

Hmm. Well, my first thought....I'd go eat razor clams and contemplate. Which, I am doing at this very moment. And then the calls would go out just to be sure.

Just_learning · 10-30-2008, 05:20 AM

Pull your credit report from the three agencies. I use www.identityguard.com. Only pay what shows up on these three.

If its not, tell them to go to heck and you are not paying. I have US Bank calling me everyonce in a while telling me I have $200 in overdraft fees that need to be payed from 2001.... I have never had a US Bank account, and they leave me alone and come back at me...if it was on my credit report I would actually put thought into paying it.

Sweet Melissa · 10-30-2008, 05:33 AM

Had this same thing happen to us a couple years ago. It was completely legit. My husband, before we had gotten married, moved and thought he had settled the phone bill. He actually had not settled the pro-rated amount for the part of the month before he moved. Seven years later, we start getting calls and letters to pay up.

I called the AG's office, and was told to get proof in writing that it was legit. If it was, then tell them we would pay the amount owed, but not all of the late fees incurred over 7 years.

We paid, and the phone calls stopped. Even if it was a 7 yr. old debt he didn't remember, it was still a debt. Clear credit, clear conscience.

jvp · 10-30-2008, 05:44 AM

legit doesn't hang up on you. report this to the AG

Sea Jypzee · 10-30-2008, 06:12 AM

If they're legit, they're also required by law to provide proof of the debit upon request.

I agree with the others, I'd pull your credit report and find out if anything is on there, and look back to the time frame of the supposed debit, and see if there was any unpaid bills that this could have originated from.

Good luck!

Sweet Melissa · 10-30-2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvp

legit doesn't hang up on you. report this to the AG

It's possible that "legit" was having a bad day or doesn't like her job. Not very professional, but possible. If they call again, just tell them to mail you something in writing. We actually called the phone company, who verified the debt.

If no one can verify it, then call the AG. Then call to make sure it doesn't get on your credit record.

It's a pain, I know. Everything in me didn't want to pay, and was mad that I had to spend any amount of time on the whole deal. We've got pretty good credit, though, and so I took a proactive approach.

That's just how we handled it. Others may certainly take a different approach.

baitsauce · 10-30-2008, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish_on

#1 11 years ago is past the statue of limitations on debt collection. Even if you did have the debt 11 years ago they can no longer collect and can't have it on your credit report. If they did list it, you can dispute it. If they won't take it off and it's that old you have them by the short hairs.

My point exactly. Eleven years is much to long to collect a "past due" debt. Ever listen to Clark Howard? Like I said tell them to go pound sand or sit on a tack. Their choice.........

Reel_Big_Fish · 10-30-2008, 08:23 AM

I wouldn't ignore it, especially if they already have your SS#.

Hasn't this come up before?

Yep, it has
LINK

Pelhament · 10-30-2008, 09:02 AM

So Norski, if the first time was a scam why would you think any differently of this one? I mean the two stories are nearly identical.

Joe C · 10-30-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baitsauce

My point exactly. Eleven years is much to long to collect a "past due" debt. Ever listen to Clark Howard? Like I said tell them to go pound sand or sit on a tack. Their choice.........

it is past the statute, but if they can sucker you into paying a dime on it, you've reaffirmed the debt and the statute starts up again. (Something not a lot of people realize when they'll write a ten dollar check thinking it'll make the thing go away). So it doesn't sound like a "scam" cause what they're doing, while unethical, is technically legal.

Here's a nice fill in the blank letter to send to them from Clark Howard's website. (His "drop dead" letter)

SAMPLE "DROP DEAD" LETTER

(Date)

To Whom It May Concern:

I have been contacted by your company about a debt you allege I owe. I am instructing you not to contact me further in connection with this debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law, you may not contact me further once I have notified you not to do so.

Sincerely,

(Name)

(Account No.)

Joe C · 10-30-2008, 09:34 AM

..

Silver Hilton · 10-30-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norski

In the mail yesterday, I get a letter from some collection company back east, so today on my sales trip, I pulled over to watch the sun rise and call.
The lady says you can settle up with just $55.00 bucks, now while your on the phone.
I said Waite a minute, who says I owe you money, she says well this bill go's back 11 years, I said WHAT!!!!

An 11 year old debt is out of statute, which means you don't owe it, even if you once did. You did the right thing. If you she calls back, tell her that the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act requires her to send you proof of the debt, and that you await her submission. She'll probably go away at that point. If they contact you before they send you the proof of the debt, they are in violation of the law, and you should contact the attorney general's office.

StickFish · 10-30-2008, 11:13 AM

Lock your credit
Check your credit report, if it isn't on your credit report it doesn't exist

Silver Hilton · 10-30-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickFish

Lock your credit
Check your credit report, if it isn't on your credit report it doesn't exist

Actually, that's not true. Credit reports are by no means guaranteed to be a complete list of debt status.

Norski · 10-30-2008, 05:15 PM

Thanks guys & gals, I checked my credit history, there is nothing on there except a AAA raiding, a score of 700+.
Like I told the gal, I pay my bills, all of them be for they are due, and in full, as I have the means to do so.
I am going to Waite and see if I get another letter, or a phone call from them, if that happens, as one said pound sand??? but than I well call the media, and the AG office.
The most distributing part is------They have my SS number, I was shocked and I mean SHOCKED.