Don't be scammed!! Companies collecting old debts...

[bliss_eternal]

I just got a letter from a company, claiming that I owe on an old debt. I called them up, and they couldn't give me any specific information, other than the amount of course. The woman I spoke to was incredibly rude, and seemed intent on getting me to fax them ALL MY INFORMATION if I wanted to contest the debt. This seemed very strange--

She finally managed to give me a date (1996), and a doctor's name (didn't sound familiar)but no facility name that the doctor worked in. :wtf: Fishy right?

I was worried about identity theft, (been a victim in the past), and told her so. I needed more information to know if this was a valid debt or not. She got BIG attitude with me about it, and eventually hung up in my face!!! :wow:

So I went to research the statute of limitations on old debts. While doing so, dh told me I should google the company's name.

OMG!!!! These people are big time scam artists!! Trying to scam people all over the country!!! Using old debts or nonexistent debts to try to get money from people.

Here's a link to a site talking about them...

http://www.guardmycreditfile.org/index.php/content/view/442/

Just thought I would share this, in the event anyone else ever gets some letter of OLD DEBTS,so you have an idea how to handle it. Especially if it is sketchy and they can't even prove it's yours.

I've got to contact my State Attorney General's office to file a report on these losers!

:hi:

[China_cat]

1. 7 years

If the debt is older than 7 years, it has aged off the books. Which would also mean that this debt (if you owed it in the first place) is no longer collectible.

Watch out too for the possibility of a paid off account being sold to a collection agency. We got a letter last week saying we owed $900 on a debt that was paid in full a year ago. So the original creditor actually got all their money AND got another sum from the agency they sold it to.

Bad as that sounds, we were shocked because it was the credit union that did it.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

3. Not all debts. Some have no statue of limitation. Guaranteed student loans

for example. They are not dischargeable in bankruptcy... well, nothing is now, but they have not been for a long time.

[China_cat]

9. Yeah, student loans and government loans

are in a totally different category. But he was talking about (maybe) a medical bill that was unpaid. If it's even a legitimate charge to begin with, the 7 years are up on that one.

The only way they go more than 7 years is if you have any activity on it...like you start to pay off an old debt. Then it's 7 years from the last activity.

As far as I have seen in the new bankruptcy law, they missed this one and it hasn't changed.

[bliss_eternal]

10. I recently paid off one of my student loans...

:woohoo:

I can't tell you how happy I was about that! But I know what you mean.

They tell you (or at least they did in my sessions) during the student loan process workshops that there is no way to get rid of student loan debt--short of paying it of course. LOL!

[bliss_eternal]

7. I'm SO sorry to hear that!!

That is insane!

Just through my research today, on this company I found out that just in the last few years (five maybe), companies are doing this to earn money. Apparently it is very big business.

It just seems incredibly unethical to me.

[GOPNotForMe]

14. Each state has its own statute of limitations on debt collection.

Seven years doesn't not apply to all states.

[bliss_eternal]

16. Most states are four years...

Some others are seven.

I checked a few and under some circumstances the statute can be overrided, IF the creditor makes any payment to the alleged debt.

[obxhead]

2. Report 'em to the FBI.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Report them to the FTC

Federal Trade Commissions

I had a similar scam tossed my way earlier this year, and after many phone calls to various agencies, was put in touch with the FTC. I spoke with an agent, was given an investigation case number..and they DO want to know about this shit.

Here's a link to info you need for contact. Be sure to call this an attempt at Identity Theft. Once it is known that it's JBC, it may generate some action against them.

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
(Info site)

AND

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03
(Complaint site)

[bliss_eternal]

12. Thank YOU--

so much for this!!!

Trust me, I will follow up every way I can. I just think it is so unethical for companies to try to scare people with threats of legal action or hurting their credit rating--so they can make a few bucks.

I'm very sorry that you went through something similiar. I hope they finally left you alone.

:hug:

[cssmall]

4. Hm.

Why do you libruls not want to pay back your debts? I mean, this are hard workin' people just trying to make an honest buck and you're wanting to call the FBI? Why do Libruls hate America? Well, excuse me, I got an Ann Coulter book cover to go stare at. :sarcasm: :rofl: :eyes:

Whatever. Send the fuckers to the FBI, the CIA and the BBB and burn the motherfuckers to hell is what I really say. Sorry, I'm in a mood tonight, probably because I'm moving!

[bliss_eternal]

5. Your post made me laugh--thank you!

I'm sorry to hear of your move--I hate the process of moving. The packing, boxing things up and dragging stuff back and forth. I feel for you and hope it is over very soon.

:hug:

Thanks again for the laugh! LOL!

[cssmall]

18. Thanks!

Well, I'm happy, actually. :) :hug: We're moving from about a 1100 sq ft townhome where we have to pay all the utilities, to a 1336 sq ft home with all utilities paid. Ahhhhh. It's so damn nice. I will be down all today tomorrow, probably. But, I probably will be hanging out over at the new place with this little comp. So, I'll update everyone tomorrow! ;)

[bliss_eternal]

19. That's wonderful!

Congratulations--I love hearing about people getting in their own homes! :applause:

:woohoo:

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

6. Follow up immediately with a 'cease and desist' letter.

This will keep them off of you while you research it. Good luck... bill collections is an ugly industry.

[bliss_eternal]

11. Yes it is...

This is a newer trend, companies buying old debts for pennies on the dollar. To try to get ANYTHING they can from debtors.

Apparently the company that wrote me is on the books for several states for illegal and unethical activities.

Thank you for the advice--I'll definitely be sending them a cease and decist letter! :hi:

[allalone]

13. they tried to scam me when I lived in Calif.

Tried to tell me I wrote a check to a store I wouldn't set foot in from 12 years before. 12 years?????
I talked to my bank, talked to DA's office. I wrote them back in no uncertain terms to cease and desist and that I would follow with legal action if they ever contacted me again. Never heard from them again.

[bliss_eternal]

15. The SAME company???

How long ago, did you live here? I'm guessing that they are targeting our state, as so many others have cracked down on them...

I'm on-line now trying to figure out which area of State Atty. General's office to file a complaint with... :shrug: There's so many areas...

I'm sorry they did this to you, too.

They suck!

[friesianrider]

17. I've heard about these!

Thanks for posting this! Sheesh...people have no friggin' shame. I know it sounds a little cliche, but think of the many elderly people who wouldn't have the slightest idea about this scam and will fall for it in a heartbeat.

There is a special place in hell for these people. *shakes head*

[Redstone]

20. Never, ever, EVER send money to anyone you don't owe money to.

Even if you do get late on a debt, you do NOT owe money to a collection agency. You owe it to the entity with which you incurred the debt.

Pay your debts as soon as you can, but pay them to the people you owe, not to anyone else.

Redstone

[Floogeldy]

21. You're smart

Keep it up.

:)

[bliss_eternal]

22. Update! I called the losers back today--

to try to get more information from them...

It seems that they just had a bunch of basic information on me--stuff easily obtained through skip tracing or a credit report. They still couldn't offer me any specifics about the alleged debt.

Since posting this last night, I've filed compaints with the FTC, CA Atty. General's office, and today I spoke to an attorney (just as a safeguard).

Just wanted to let others know, if this ever happens to you--don't give anyone ANY of your information. Make them confirm the information that they have on you--but don't offer them any. In fact, you don't even have to tell them that the info. they have is correct, just found out as much as possible about them and what info. they have.

That's what the atty. told me today.

[Dangerously Amused]

23. EXACT SAME THING happened to a guy I was dating over the summer!

EXACT same thing! The caller had little information about the actual debt, a BIG attitude and high pressure to wire the money somewhere quickly. My guy called me because they threatened to have him arrested if he didn't cough up the money in 48 hours. I told him that was total BULLSHIT because debt collectors have no arrest powers, nor do the police in this type of (civil) matter. I asked my guy about the debt, he said he was paying off on a debt to the company the caller mentioned like a year ago, but that he was SURE he paid the whole thing off. I told him to tell the cops, and he did. The cops had my guy call the other guy back while a detective listened in. As soon as the detective got on the line and identified himself and started telling the "debt collector" he was full of crap, the guy hung up and never called back.