Our homeowners association received a notice from a landscape company we no longer deal with.  They initially indicated that we owed for two months (they could not say which 2).  Our records did not show any past due bills.  Their invoices never showed a previous balance and typically the invoice did not state what month of service the invoid would be applied to (we assume the month of the bill)\n\nWe have now been told that they believe the months not paid are March 2004 and March 2005.  This is for about 10,000 each month.  Accounting records are confused due to mid budget rate changes and fiscal year confusion.  I am wondering if they are able to convince us that we did not pay those months.  Do we have any statute of limitations protection that might help leverage our negotiations?
123791
Don't you have bookkeeping records?  All you have to do is go back through your checking account and see if you paid or not, it's that simple.  If you didn't, you owe them ... if you did, you don't.
628647
If you're married you should have accessibility to your wife's cell phone records.  This is assuming that you have the same last name and address.  Contact the cell phone provider and tell them that you haven't received you last 3 months of bills and have been calling in to get your balance to pay it.  Request that they mail, fax or email them to you (some have this capability).  Or another way is to tell them that the phone is predominately used for business for your company and you need to submit the detail billing (listing of calls made) to your company to get reimbursed.   You will have to have your information (or your wife's) ready verifying who you say you are.  Obtaining the records should be very easy.  Under the law you have this entitlement as you are viewed as single entity.  Unfortunately, I had to do this myself and the records blew the whole thing wide open for me.  Divorced 3 years now.  Good luck and make sure you're prepared as it may be worse than you imagined.
277202
Read the link below.  It discusses what the statute of limitation is, and what the length of time in your state is.  Most states run 4-6 years, but some are more.  So look at the link.\n\nThe very first thing you need to do is send the collection agency a "demand to validate".  This is a demand that they send you proof that you have a legal obligation to pay this debt.  They must send you copies of contracts, bills, receipts, and everything used to calculate what they claim you owe.\n\nInclude in this letter a statement that you do not believe this is your debt, and tell them you expect some proof.  Also remind them that posting unvalidated reports to your credit history is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and they can easily be sued in small claims court for $1000 if they try to do it.\n\nAlso include wording to the effect that they must cease and desist contacting you.\n\nSee the link below for a sample letter you can use.\n\nIf you have not checked it recently, get a copy of your credit report and verify that they have not posted anything on your history.  You can get a free copy by going to http://www.annualcreditreport.com\n\nContact me if you need further advice or encouragement.
630936
I was a collections manager for years and work as a Mortgage Broker now.\n\nIf you have not made a payment in 6 years but you send them a $5 payment it reactivates the 7 yr rule. \n\nSo if you haven't made any payments don't go getting honest now it will only hurt you my friend.
229789
There is a statue of limitations on a debt. After the statue has expired, (usually 2 or 3 years after the last activity) they can not sue you to collect the debt. \n\nCredit reporting agencies can not report on accounts older than 7 years (10 if bankruptcy).\n\nThese times are based on the last activity on the account. For example, if you made the last payment on a credit card on Feb. 15, 1999 the bad debt must be removed from your credit file in Feb of 2006. If you make a payment now, the clock starts again. \n\nMost debt collection companies try to get you to make a payment, sometimes offering to "settle" for 1/2 or less, in order to restart the statue where you can be sued, and it will remain on your credit reports.\n\nWhile you may have a moral responsibility for the debt, there is no legal one!
395682
Call the company and explain the situation.  They can often reverse the charge on your account when you correct the situation.  Most places are reasonable.
23473
As a customer service rep, I am sorry to hear about your frustration regarding your student loans.  Since I am not at work right now, I can speak my mind and give my personal opinion.  You may want to become acquainted with the Better Business Bureau if you have not thought about that before.  Allow me to introduce you (see links below).  You may want to consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  You would have to explain the details in detail (literally), but you would get your problem resolved promptly.  If you have the proof (receipts, invoices, etc.) to show that the bank completed a double transaction, they will request that for resolution purposes.  If the bank is doing this to you, it's highly likely that there are other customers that have experienced similar frustrations.  Sure, there are periods of time when companies get busy and you may not get the immediate answer that you want, but reasonably, something should have happened within two weeks or so.  You had stated that your loan payment was in October.  This is now January...they should be getting a move-on AND I don't blame you for wanting to take your business elsewhere.  Try one of the links below for additional contact information.
591649
Here is some information on an article I wrote back in December 2005\n\n"How long will collection or other derogatory information stay on your credit report?"\n\nCredit information can and usually stays on a person’s credit report for 7 years. You can use the information below as a reference to guide yourself and figure out how long derogatory information stays on your credit report\n\nGeneral credit information: 7yrs\nCollections: 7yrs from date of last activity\nBankruptcy: 10 yrs\nForeclosure: 12 yrs from the date filed\nGarnishment: 12 yrs from the date or entry or 7 yrs from the date satisfied\nJudgment: 12 yrs from the date or entry or 7 yrs from the date satisfied\nTax lien: 12 yrs from the date or entry or 7 yrs from the date satisfied\nDismissed garnishments, judgments, and tax liens: not reportable\n\nNow that you have this information I’ll give you an example similar to a client. The agent he had worked with before gave him the wrong advice.\n\nLets assume that you had a collection for $1,000 filed against you in December 1998 and you haven’t paid it. It’s now November 2005, so in a few weeks that collection can come off your credit report. (You will probably have to request all three credit bureaus to take it off your credit report). However, you just applied for a loan today and the loan officer tells you that you need to payoff that debt in order to be approved. Since you have the money to pay it off, you do so. Because the date of last activity is now November 2005, the collection will show on your report until November 2012 – another additional 7 years.\n\nNow let assume that this collection was in June 2005 and you pay it off in November 2005 to obtain the loan, this will reduce your credit score. On the other hand if this collection was in September 2005 and you pay it off in November 2005 to obtain the loan, this will actually increase your score. My point is that a collection account that is less than 6 months old and is paid off will be beneficial but if your collection account is more than 6 months old and is paid off this will be detrimental to your credit score.\n\nYou as a consumer can request copies of your credit report from the 3 credit bureaus (although it’s better to get a collective report from all three in one which I can help you with) and dispute information that is incorrect. Incorrect information can be corrected or removed but correct information (good or bad) usually stays on the report for the period allowed. Only the credit grantor (lender/bank) or credit bureau can remove correct information.\n\nIf you find incorrect information on your report, contact the credit grantor obtain an explanation, have them corrected and ask them to contact all three credit bureaus and correct that information on your report. After this you should also contact all three credit with a letter with documented proof of the error on your report and ask them to remove this information. The credit bureaus by law have to respond to your letter and request. Depending on your case they might approve or deny your request but they have to respond to your letter. Following are the addresses for all three credit bureaus.\n\nTrans Union\nPO Box 4000\nChester, PA 19022\n866-887-2673\nhttp://www.transunion.com/\n\nExperian\nPO Box 2002\nAllen, TX 75013\n888-397-3742\nhttp://www.experian.com/\n\nEquifax Credit\nPO Box 740241\nAtlanta, GA 30374\n800-685-1111\nhttp://www.equifax.com/
287749
Its really hard to tell how much you can get anyway with paying. I use to do this kind of work. So it depends on how long you have owed them, was you credit good (always made payments on time) until this happened or it was a little rocky sometimes,then what kind of finance company was it ( automobile, private loan from a bank or credit card co, home buying) & has it gone into collections yet?? All these things sometimes makes a difference. But you can always make them an offer. Cause they have told you what the debit was, what they would settle for. So now I would make them an offer. Maybe start with whatever $ amount you can pay right now..then if that fails then offer a little more but it will take you a little bit longer to pay that $ amount. And just go from there. If all else fells, make 1 lump sum, & payments on the rest. BEST OF WISHES, I KNOW ITS HARD!!
51897
You would list the entire balance of what is still owed at the date of the balance sheet.\n\nThe balance sheet is a snapshot in time of the company assets, liabilities, and equity.\n\nThe amount of the monthly payment would be deducted from the total balance of what is owed each time...but in the balance sheet you list all of what is still owed.\n\nHowever, if you are doing a classified balance sheet, you would list only what is owed within a year in the "current assets" section, and the rest in the "long term liabilities" section.
3959
As usual with legal-related questions on Yahoo! Answers, too little information exists to answer this question adequately.  The state you're in would be helpful.  Not posting the same question five times would be helpful.  Nevertheless, I'll answer what I can in this question, and post another question if you need more details.\n\nAt this date and time, it's getting a little too late to deal with the problems adequately.  A notarized note will not be very helpful - after all, the dispute is not about whether the house exists in that condition, but whether you or the landlord should be responsible for the cost of those conditions.\n\nTaking photographs and video is helpful, but again it only shows that damage exists, not who is responsible for it.  The video, though, may be able to show that it wasn't from your abuse of the apartment, but from natural wear and tear that the landlord refused to repair.\n\nDo you have any record of communication with the landlord?  That's the strongest piece of evidence you'll have.  You'd be able to show that you notified the landlord, or that the landlord acknowledged receipt of that request.\n\nIt's a little too late now, but you should have sent certified mailings to the landlord.  The landlord would have had to sign a card acknowledging that he received your letter, and you would have proof that he received your request.  With just 10 days to go, it's too late for that.\n\nI would carefully catalog everything that has happened, with each date you noticed the problem if possible, if the cause was natural, when you notified the landlord, and the entire history of the dispute.  Photos and video are helpful if you go to court.  A notarized statement is not very helpful.  Records of communication with your landlord are extremely helpful.  Otherwise, if you don't get the security deposit, you may simply have to go to small claims court with the recordings and hope that the judge believes your story.
337523
Call the lender (or, possibly the collections agency if your situation has gotten to that point).  Many companies are willing to work with you because defaulting on a loan is bad for their business, too.  However, you have to show them that you are a responsible borrower:\n\n1.  Explain to them what happened (tell them just what you told us here)\n2.  Tell them that you will take responsibility from now on (the loans will always be in your name, so even if your mother still plans to pay them off, you should still keep a watchful eye on your account balance to make sure that she is never late) \n3. Ask what repayment options you have at this stage.  Some lenders will put you into a forbearance in order to alleviate your payment problems.  Other lenders will recommend that you consolidate your loans in order to lower your monthly payment.  Others will, as you suggest, devise alternative payment options called an "income contingent" or an "income sensitive" payment plans.  Ask them if they can do this and, if so, whether they can make your payments close to $50.  Generally, once you make 6 consecutive payments on time, you will be out of default, which will help your take-home wages and your credit report in the long run.\n\nRemember, too, that collections agencies deal with a lot of lazy people -- show them that you are different.  If the person you speak to is having an "off" day or doesn't seem willing to help you, try again.  Consider asking your former Financial Aid Office to contact them on your behalf (I have done this for students) -- sometimes they are more pleasant when dealing with someone "in the business."\n\nFinally, one of your rights as a Stafford or Perkins Loan borrower is that you be allowed to speak to an ombudsman when things get rough.  You can find one and learn about what they can do at http://www.ombudsman.ed.gov/  (Basically, an ombudsman is an individual who resolves disputes through an independent viewpoint; they do a lot of impartial fact-finding to make sure that you have been treated fairly.)
319733
Again, many wrong answers.  Wish you folks would take the time to read the Fair Credit Reporting Act and get your facts straight.\n\nYou have two dates to worry about.\n\nThe credit agencies report your debt for 7 years, beginning on the day of default.  NOT the date of charge off, date the collection agency reports it, or the date it's sent to a new collection agency!  If you owed a bill on Jan 1, 1999, and missed that payment, THAT is your default date, and it will not change!  There is even a position paper issued by the Federal Trade Commission that states this fact very clearly.  I do not understand why collection agencies tell you otherwise, other then the fact they are lying!  \n\nMany times, when a collection agency gets the account, they may not know the deliquency date, or they will bump the date up for whatever reason.  This is called "aging the debt" and it's illegal!  \n\nYour other concern is the Statute of Limitations.  This date varies from state to state from 4-10 years.  So you need to check what your state's SOL is...see the link below for that info.\n\nThat date begins on the last recorded transaction.  Again, using the above example, of you made a late payment on March 1, 1999, that is the beginning of your SOL.  There are a few other examples, but they get legally involved, so I won't go into it now.\n\nAfter the SOL has run out, you no longer have a legal obligation to pay the debt.  If they attempt to sue you, you simply file a motion to dismiss based on the expiration of the SOL, and it will be quickly dismissed by the judge.\n\nSo....do you pay?\n\nThat's where you gamble.  If the debt is large, it may be worth the effort of a collector to sue you.  If that collector is in the same area/state, that makes it even easier and more likely they will sue.  \n\nIf you want to try and hide out for another year, it's up to you.  but once they find you, and if they win a judgement, that will be on your credit report for 7 years, and they can continue to try and collect for a long time.
314318
Have your Accountant and Attorney check T.C.A. § 28-3-110  \n\nIm almost positive that this is the Statute that Tennessee relies on for it's 10 year Statute of Limitations on Tax Liens.
382550
I paid my property taxes with a check (from the credit card company) at a 5.9% rate.  I didn't have $1900 for mine and the $35 fee is less than the 10% I would have been charged.\nIf you have some of the money, you can use your credit card and pay that which you do have right away to the credit card company.  IE- pay $1100 on credit card and mail $500 to the credit card company.  This will help you get the balance down and not incur as much finance charge.  \nDon't forget you have another property tax bill due again on April 10, so if you don't have the first part paid off by then, you will be really behind.  \nYou might consider having an impound done so you are sure you have the money already set aside in the future.
186742
Max, it's VERY important how the information is reported on your credit report, as it effects how your credit score is calculate\n\nBelow is what the law says.  I'm amazed at how many people keep getting this wrong.  It's written quite plainly so anyone can understand it.  \n\nThe date for reporting begins on the day you defaulted on the loan.  In your case, once your medical services were finished payment is generally due immediately.  If they send you a bill, there is usually a "pay by" date.  That is your default date.  \n\nIf anyone tells you it's the date of the last transaction, the day you last talked to them, the day you pay it off....they are either wrong or just lieing to you.  \n\nBy the way, if you pay off this debt, be sure to get IN WRITING that they will remove this listing from your report.  Otherwise, all they will do is show the account is paid, but the negative reports such as paid late, or sent to collections, will still remain.  Your credit will still be ruined, even though you paid the debt!  Does that make sense to you?\n\nHere is the law:\n\n\n§ 605. Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports [15 U.S.C. § 1681c]\n\n(a) Information excluded from consumer reports. Except as authorized under subsection (b) of this section, no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information:\n\n(4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the report by more than seven years.(1)\n\n(1) In general. The 7-year period referred to in paragraphs (4) and (6)(2) of subsection (a) shall begin, with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection (internally or by referral to a third party, whichever is  earlier), charged to profit and loss, or subjected to any similar action, upon the expiration of the 180-day period  beginning on the date of the commencement of the delinquency which immediately preceded the collection activity, charge to profit and loss, or similar action.\n\nUpdated Reply...\n\nJC, this is another example of what pisses me off with you collectors.  YOU can't read!  Read my message again!  The law I quoted is right from the FTC website, and (to me) is fairly obvious.  Where does it say "last charge" or "last payment in the above paragraphs?  \n\nAnd the ONLY thing that can remain on your credit report for more then 7 years is a Bankruptcy.  We are not even discussing that, so why scare people by bringing that up?  \n\nAgain, I will ask you to point me to a source for your information.  I will not accept "because I'm a professional bill collector".  This only proves my point!  If you need more evidence, I will be happy to point out FTC commission position papers, case laws, and state laws that prove you wrong.\n\nEvery response I have seen from you in this forum is always the same. "Pay your bill!".  God!  You make a great collection agent!  You got that part memorized.  But what do you say to the 75 year old lady who just spend 3 months in the hospital and is now $25,000 in debt for medical bills, and can't make that $100 credit card payment?  Oh yeah, right...."Pay your bill!".
458308
Yes, I have disputed and had the negatives removed, but the negatives were inaccurate. Sometimes it is best to "let laying dogs sleep" if the negative is old and accurate. By disputing the claim, you are refreshing the memory that you have an accurate debt with the creditor and since they will be updating the bureaus, your credit score could slightly drop since the account will look like it has had recent activity. Plus, if the creditors start to contact you since you reminded them of the debt, you will have to be careful with what you do so that you don't lengthen the statue of limitations (allowing them to have a chance to sue you for a longer period of time).