Posted on 09/27/2007 1:17:56 PM PDT by AFreeBird
Okay, so this rare vanity is directed to my FReeper brethren to see if any of you have run across this situation. And to warn potential victims in case you're about to.
Out of the blue, I received a collections notice from a company called ANFI Collections, for a debt of some $100 dollars due to Verizon Florida, Inc.
Now some 15~20 years ago, I did live in Florida, and I did have local phone service with GTE, now part of Verizon (they listed a # and it sounds like it might have been mine, but it's been so long I don't actually remember). I moved from FLA 15 years ago.
I can't honestly say if I owe the debt, but all other utilities were paid and closed, and I have no reason to doubt that GTE was too. And my records from that time had been shredded a few years back. So I can't say.
But I did some Googling of ANFI and Verizon, and did turn up some some similar stories on other boards regarding this company. Apparently they bought up a bunch of names either from Verizon, or other collection companies, some dating back 20 years and have sent out mass mailings this year.
In any event I wanted to warn you all of this. It is a SCAM, or a Fraud IMHO. Maybe I did have a collection issue with GTE, but resolved it (with GTE directly) long ago, but the collections contract was never canceled, or the payment was not properly credited, or I don't know what. But the Statute of Limitations has run out.
I get the impression that this ANFI company is trying to scare people into paying. Do not call this company to inquire, and DO NOT PAY anything until you've throughly researched. You may have to respond to them, but do so in writing, and do so via Registered (return receipt requested) US postal mail (for possible postal fraud complaints), keep all copies of correspondence. You may want to start your research into a similar situation by taking a look at Fair Debt Collection.com, and Federal laws at the Federal Trade Commission.
“And my records from that time had been shredded a few years back. So I can’t say.”
Yes, you can. They are required by law to provide verification of the debt upon your request. Also, I doubt that a 15 year old debt would still be enforceable in most states.
There is usually a statute of limitations on debt collection. I’m not sure of the legal particulars in Florida, but, if this truly occurred 15-20 years ago, its likely that the statute of limitations has run its course, and you cannot be sued for this.
H
I posted a vanity about this a few months back and now I can’t find it. The same thing happened to me concerning Sprint. It is on my credit report and I don’t owe Sprint anything. I don’t have a clue as to how to get it off either.
Still, since I made contact, I'll have to do the mail dispute thing. And I know the Sol has run out.
A couple of years ago I got a collection notice saying I owed some telephone company (I think Sprint) for over $100 in collect calls, for a phone number that was in my wifes name up until about three years before the debt. I called the company, and didn’t get very far. I called the telephone company, and they told me that they had hire a debt collector who used old information to try and track down the owner of the number. They said not to worry about it, and to ignore the letter. I got another letter a few weeks later, had the same conversation, and they told me not to worry. I got a thrid and more threatening letter after a few more weeks. This time I called and told them that I trying to figure out whether to call my Attorney General or the Public Service Commission (their regulator), and maybe they could help me decide who to call. They faxed me a letter saying I didn’t own them anything, and I sent that to the collection agent.
My situation - long distance landline phone svc w/ Sprint - moved and continued svc to new address. Eventually chose another LD company and paid all bills to satisfaction.
8 years later, a past due notice at old addy from Sprint, didn’t have old number printed on bill, I didn’t remember it. Had to call Sprint Corporate to get routed to human being.
Sprint had installed software to bill customers $5/mo for privilege of svc. Software included old customers from wayback. 1st CSR I spoke with parrotted, “That’s what the computer says, you owe.” Took an old, experienced CSR to explain and delete debt.
Hope this helps, quitting time and I’m outta here. :o)
BTW: I went got got my yearly free copy of my creit report from Equifax and there's nothing on it about this - yet. My responding to them might trigger them reporting, but I have not paid anything, nor have I indicated that I'd pay anything. The reps "Supervisor" said he'd halve my bill, LOL. That sent up red flags right away, at which point I asked what the original amount was. He didn't know, saying that they didn't have the records handy or sumsuch BS.
Probably just more fund raising by Hillary.
It’s essentially a wide net fishing expedition. Let’s say the debt is real, but also really old and potentially non-collectible. Let’s say there are a thousand people just like you in the same circumstance. If only 100 people actually pay the $100, Then they have made $10,000 on the investment of 1000 postage stamps and letters.................
sue them under the Fair Debt Collections Act (let along claims of fraud, harrassment, etc.). Contact a local consumer protection lawyer and make some money off it.
Under the FDCPA, after 7 years the debt is null and void unless a court order was obtained by the creditor for payment of the debt. After 7 years, it must not be included on your credit report, it is considered uncollectable.
Yep, that’s why the vanity, to warn others. Like I said, I can’t say if the debt is real(outstanding or closed), and I have no records (canceled checks) to prove otherwise, and the SoL has run out.
Get a lawyer. Sounds like a great class action suit.
bookmark
If return envelope is postage paid, send it back filled with washers or other flat metal...no corespondence.
Junk debt buyers are sprouting up all over the place. A new even more slimy tactic is buying old debt and then filing lawsuits en masse. In Texas a junk debt buyer purchased some old Cc debt from a large card issuer and filed 1000 lawsuits, yes I said 1000! Ah the power of mail merging and Word 2007. I can imagine the county clerk on that deal. I am sure the small claims judge was just thrilled probably after 10 of them just started to default for the defendant. Debt collection is the new work at home business. Buy old debt for pennies on the dollar and then from a computer and your SKYPE headset call and harass people.
Most states have statute of limitations for suing on any debt but you have to respond to a lawsuit to defend yourself. Debt collectors have been known to falsify affidavits, re-age accounts, add in illegal costs. All with the wiling help of the three major credit bureaus. The system is a mess and has not helped one wit to help folks pay their bills on time.
I once got a letter from a collection agency demanding payment of $3,000 back on behalf of “our client”. I wrote back asking for the name of the client and I never heard from them again.
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