[AFreeBird]

Again, this is a friendly warning to my fellow FReepers. To be fore warned, is to be fore armed.

[darkwing104]

Google "Zombie debts"...You’ll be pleasantly surprised that the law protects you.

[Brilliant]

“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.

[SnakeDoctor]

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

[Graybeard58]

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.

[Wiser now]

Clark Howard has information about this kind of “debt collection” at his website. The “debt collection” company settles with the provider, in this case Verizon for whatever they can get then attempts to collect the debt from you for whatever they can get.
You send them what Clark calls a “drop dead” letter.
Tell them you do not owe the debt they allege you owe (important wording) and that under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, they may not put anything on your credit report. You then keep a copy of the letter forever.
www.clarkhoward.com

[NYFriend]

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.

[JZelle]

Probably just more fund raising by Hillary.

[Red Badger]

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.................

[enough_idiocy]

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.

[mkjessup]

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.

[bigeasy_70118]

Get a lawyer. Sounds like a great class action suit.

[Sax]

bookmark

[Roccus]

If return envelope is postage paid, send it back filled with washers or other flat metal...no corespondence.

[Squawk 8888]

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.

[hadit2here]

There is some good information regarding statute of limitations posted here, but you DO need to check your credit report and fix it if they have you listed. A lot of free, detailed info on doing this and letters to do it can be had at:

Credit Info Center
American Loan Search

Use the form letters they have and read their forums on credit repair. Lots of good information and you'll learn lots of credit stuff there. Most all of it can be done for free or for just the cost of Certified Mail Return Receipt deliveries to the credit reporting agencies.

DO NOT let this go. It will affect your credit rating without you knowing about it. Dealing just with the Collection Agency won't fix the negative credit listings on your credit reports from the 3 major credit reporting agencies.

[IronJack]

I suspect 20 years is wayyyyyyyy beyond any statute of limitations for debt.

[hinckley buzzard]

I never had this situation but have become totally fed up with the cheesy unethical practices of phone companies in general. Cingular, T-Mobile, and Verizon have each in their own way failed to perform, usually by refusing to honor the statements and assurances of service made by their sales agents.

Cingular cancelled a service contract because they weren't making enough money, and then charged me the cancellation fee! Scumbags all. I miss Ma Bell.

[BearCub]

Funny you posted this. A coworker of mine just asked me about the EXACT same scenario because it's happening to him.

Send them a certified letter asking them to never contact you about this again.

That's it. Don't ask for verification, validation, etc... and whatever you do, don't send one of those stupid "validation" letters you can download from some of the message boards.

It's past the 7-1/2 year credit reporting period and very likely past your state's statute of limitations on debt. If you send them the above demand, there is nothing they can do but stop contacting you. If they do contact you after that, Freepmail me and I'll tell you how to get a quick $500 from them.

[diotima]

Visit and post here:

creditboards.com

The people there know what they are talking about.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Remember, the statute of limitations runs from the date of last payment made or the date of the “promise” to pay..

So, be aware of what you say to a bill collector..