I got a bill in the mail back in 1999 for a credit card that I never had.  Collectors still call how do I stop
110064
First, I don't know what state your in but most credit card debt falls under open accounts and their SOL (statue of limitations) is 3-5 years. You need to check the sol in your state.\nSecond, considering the age of the account more than likely this is a junk debt buyer. You need to send them another DV (debt validation letter)along with a limited C&D (cease & desist (letter telling them to only contact you in writing)) by CMRRR (certified mail return receipt requested) so you have proof you have asked for validation.\nThird, if the collector is reinserting the debt on your credit report without notifying you within 5 days they are violating FCRA.\nI would would not advise calling anyone. It would be best to stay off the phone and make all contact via snail mail using CMRRR.\nIt is unlikely with the age of this account that they will sue. However, if they do, you may be able to use SOL as a defense. Under the FDCPA they cannot state actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action. Since odds are the debt is so old it they may not be able to sue therefore in violation. Please check out the links below for further information and good luck
393137
First of all, don't go clumping everyone who can't pay their bills into the same group of deadbeats!  That is what really pisses me off abut you collectors!\n\nEvery person has their own reasons.  Sure, you got a lot of irresponsible people, but a whole lot more have legitimate problems.\n\nDivorces, medical emergencies, loss of jobs, personal accidents or disasters...all of these can ruin someones ability to pay bills.  \n\nFrom my experiences, most people want to pay, but because of the above reasons they can't!  They certainly can make an effort, but collectors like you won't give them a chance!  It's either pay it all now, or your credit is ruined!\n\nIt certainly doesn't make it easier when credit card companies totally screw you with their tricks.  Like when you miss a payment by a few days, and suddenly your interest jumps from 13% to 29%!  Years of good payments mean nothing to you...but miss ONE payment and you are screwed!\n\nAnd it's certainly nice of them to raise your credit limit without your knowledge.  The next think you know, you are $5000 in debt on a card that you thought only had a $2000 limit!  OK, that's the fault of the irresponsible consumer for not knowing their card limits.  But you see how it can destroy someones budget?\n\nI've posted a lot of comments here.  I've had a ton of nasty emails from collectors calling me a deadbeat.  \n\nTruth is I pay my bills.  And in a sense I'm a collector too (GASP!).  \n\nI run a storage facility, and I have to deal with non payment issues all the time.  But in two years I have never had to evict anyone!  I understand that people run into hard times, and I will work with them to catch up.  I'm damn proud of my history with working with people!\n\nHow many people have you sued?
349172
You are finding out what I've been trying to warn people about for weeks now.  \n\nNever, ever, pay off an bill that is in collections unless you get IN WRITING that they will remove the negative entry from your record before you pay them a DIME!\n\nNow that they have your money, you no longer have any leverage over them.  Good luck getting them to fix your report.  Remember this....credit reporting agencies only report what the creditor tells them.  They can NOT remove it or change it.  \n\nWhat you will need to do is this.\n\n1) Send a letter to the CRA protesting the report, and tell them exactly what is wrong with it.  If it's paid off try to supply any evidence of it.\n\nThe CRA will contact the creditor to "verify" that the report is legitimate.  Remember they are not investigating anything, they are just verifing with the creditor that the information they have is correct.  \n\nIf the creditor does not change the record, and you have documented evidence that it is wrong, then move on to part 2.\n\n2) Send a "demand for validation" letter to the creditor.  They must supply you with copies of all contracts, bills, receipts, and everything used to calculate what they claim you owe. If they do not produce it, send a copy of this letter with another protest to the CRA to remove the listing.  If they don't do it, you have grounds to sue both the CRA and the creditor.\n\nIf the creditor can not supply proper evidence to prove the listing is accurate, and still will not remove it, you can sue the creditor for violations of the FCRA, and defamation of character.  \n\nRead the links below, contact me if you need more help.
58648
Call the issuing bank or Visa or MC which ever the card is and tell them they will reverse the charge.\nThere usually is an 800 phone number on the back.
526986
How soon will it be cahrged off? Your credit is already affected so it won't hurt it any more if your credit is bad already. Secondly, make CERTAIN it's your bill and call the company to ask for verifacation that this is a legit bill. Even if you know it is. Why? Because most companies don't really keep good records for the long haul and they maybe can't produce your bill. Thus, you're off the hook.\n\nThen again, BEFORE you make arraingements understand that once you inquire on the bill that you're opening up the credit hounds to pursue you until payment is recieved. \n\nI appluaude you for wanting to clean it up. Just understand what it is, how much to pay it off in a lump payment and don't over commit to something you can't afford as far as payments.
736654
This sounds like a load of cr*p.  Don't deal with collection agents at all.  If you WANT to pay the bill, deal directly with the credit card company (and make SURE it is the credit card company you are dealing with, not a collections agent pretending to be them).\n\nIf the company won't deal with you and the debt has already hit your credit report, just don't bother with it at all--it can't get any worse.\n\nIf they threaten to take you to court wait until you have at least two letters from a REAL attorney (investigate whether the law firm that sends you the letters is legit or not) and then offer to settle with them for 50% of the funds due.\n\nCollection agents will lie, cheat, and steal just to get you to talk to them, don't deal with them at all!  No honest person becomes a collection agent... or if one does, they soon lose all aspects of humanity they once had.\n\nGood luck!
769335
I used to be a bill collector.  Although you can't be held responsible for accounts your name weren't on, they can still try and collect from you.  If they do, send them a copy of the death certificate along with a "Notice to Quit" stating that your name was not on the account, you're not paying it and you don't want them to contact you again.  Make sure it's sent certified or with delievery confirmation and keep a copy.
482026
The first issue is- did you tell them that you would contact them within a specific time frame? From your question it does not appear to be so. Hence I would recommend that you start off by reminding them that you had dropped off your card and would be very happy to do business with them or offer them special services/rates whenever they would require.\n\nThe idea is to remain top of mind by maintaining regular contact. However, I would advise that every contact should have some information which would be useful to the receiver. Or else your letter would be viewed as one more junk mail\n\nAll the best,\n\nTurab
258061
There's several Non-Profit debt consolidation groups out there that will do this, but it completely kills your ability to obtain any new credit until the consolidation is totally paid off.  I've been credit card free for almost 8 years now and it feels great to never see a bill in my mailbox.\n\nDo your part to end pointless economic wars on yourself by financial institutions by becoming a balanced-budget person.
1074581
Order your credit reports and see if the collection agency is listed. If it is, use the info that they list on the report to send them a debt validation letter. Send it certified mail return receipt (CMRRR). \n\nSend a dispute to the credit reporting agency's concerning the tradeline that the collection ageny has placed on your reports after you receive the CMRRR green card back.\n\nCheck the statute of limitations (SOL) in your state to see if this debt is still within the limits.\n\nWhen you get proper validation back, and it is still in SOL and you want to pay, send a pay for delete letter. Send it CMRRR\n\nMake sure you send everything in writing. Make sure that you include in the letter that they will delete the tradeline they have placed on your reports after payment, that they will not continue to collect the debt, that they will not sell the debt or the remainder of the debt if you have an agreement with them to pay only a percentage of the amount.\n\nIf you find that the account is out of SOL, you are within your rights to send them a SOL letter and not pay. Send it CMRRR
293634
I worked at a collection agency for three years. You can write on the envelope..."return to sender....wrong address" The agency will receive it back and correct thier files, or they are supposed to anyway. That way you don't have to go to all the trouble of writing a letter and wasting a stamp.
934407
Either get an old bill and find the number that way or call the Companies  and they may have it?! Nexts some like that happens again write it down, :)
237495
First, this is to progunr.  Please point out where in the law you are referring to.  Your information is wrong.\n\nLets get one fact straight.  The credit reporting bureau reports what creditors/collection agents tell them.  If it's not accurate, it will be removed.\n\nIf the creditor tells them to remove or change an item, they will do it.  Do not believe any other crap they tell you, it's not true.  \n\nThe credit bureau will not remove any item that is true (ie, verified with the creditor).  That means that if you send the credit bureau a complaint, the bureau will contact the creditor and "verify" that the report is accurate.  If they say it's accurate, then the report will stay.  But you can place a comment in your report disputing it.  \n\nThe credit bureau does NOT investigate whether the information is actually accurate.  They only report what is told to them.\n\nTherefore, if the creditor tells the bureau that the report is not accurate, and that it should either be removed or verified, they will do it.  \n\nThe only other way to get the report changed or removed involved a lengthy process of letter writing, validation, complaints, threats, and sometimes a call from an attorney.  \n\nThat is why it's so very, VERY, important to get IN WRITING an agreement with the creditor to remove the listing once the bill is paid.  After they get the money you no longer have any leverage with them.\n\nNow...as to your question about makign them make a deal with you....\n\nWhy are you even messing with a collection agent?  Unless that agent purchased your debt outright, you have no legal obligatin to even talk to them.  So contact the original creditor and see if they want to deal with you.\n\nIf not, what is the point of paying them?  Your credit will still be ruined.  Tell them to take you to court.   If the debt is small (under $500) they probably won't go through the time and expense.  \n\nMy battle cry!  You are about to go to war!  Do not fight these guys unarmed!  Knowledge of the law is your only weapon!  Read the links below, it will show you exactly what you need to do when dealing with these guys.\n\nContact me if you need any further advice or support.
829591
I understand your frustration. This happened to me with a "trip" I didn't want.\nSome company charged a trip to my card and when I called to contest it they said they talked to me on the phone and I agreed to buy the trip. I said no, play the recording for me. They wouldn't. I called my credit card company and told them take it off I don't want it. I don't have any part of the "trip" in my posession. The card company took it off and two months later put it right back on. I was furious, felt like I had been robbed. I had a lawyer call them and threaten them with a law suit.\n\nSeems to me your cable company could have authorized a credit to your card instead of making you wait.  \n\nIn the future, tell them you are recording the conversation because I have had so many instances of failed promises and twisted statements I could barf. Get a recorder that hooks to the phone line and turns on when any voice is there. Radio shack has them. They take a standard cassette tape and you can pause it if it is just a friendly conversation.\n\nTry not to let this throw for a loop. It most likely was a mistake not an attempt to rip you off. They most likely process thousands of forms a day.  But imagine if your card was close to max and that put you over the limit. You would have a fee of anywhere from $19 to $29! \n\nI got fed up with the constantly increasing rates of cable and switched to satellite.\n\nGood luck ...............
946276
Not talking to them is the key. The last time I talked to a bill collector they asked for my information claiming that they needed to update their records. And may times a bill collector will attempt to intimidate you into giving them the info. They told me that making the payment arrangement required me to give them the name of my employer, their address, and the phone number. I admit I was too much of a wuss to stand up to them so I gave them a bunch of false information.
474397
Contact their client (the company you owed) and request to totally clear the account/bill. \n\nI've done this before with BMG Music. i cancelled my account and return the CD, so I really don't have to pay. the collection agency keeps on sending mails but contacting BMG fixed everything.
1047978
They usually "try" to collect forever. \n\nIs it with a collection agency or still with the original creditor? If it is still with the original creditor, it either hasn't been very long since he defaulted, or it is with Cap One (just a couple of guesses there) \n\nYou need to find the statute of limitations in your state.\nYou also need to find when the date of first delinquency was on that card. \n\nIf he has had that card for 8 or 9 years, but only defaulted on it 2 years ago, he is probably still within the statute of limitations.\n\nIf he defaulted on the card 8 or 9 years ago, he is probably out of the statute of limitations, but you need to look it up to be sure.\n\nIf he defaulted that long ago and it is still on his credit reports, I would suggest sending the collection agency a debt validation letter. Send it certified return receipt mail. After receiving the green card back, send a dispute to the credit bureaus claiming - obsolete, please delete. (since the reporting period on a credit card is 7 years from date of first delinquency)\n\nThen, if you are "positive" he is out of the statute of limitations, after it has been 30+5 days since the collection agency had received the debt validation letter, whether they respond or not, send a SOL letter.\n\nI would suggest going to the site I've linked, you can find the resources for your letters and looking up the statute of limitations in your state.