Hello! I have collection agency for Sprint that appeared on my account on May 2008 when I was denied credit but they weren't there in Dec 2007 when I pulled my credit report on my own. The thing is when I called the collection agency asking them for proof of my so-called debt, it turns out its a debt from back in 2002. Is this legal??? This so-called debt wasn't there on my credit report for the past 5-6yrs and appeared all of a sudden.
When I called Sprint to verify the debt, they couldn't find the account number given to me by the collection agency. Apparently the account number given is a phantom number since it doesnt belong anywhere in their system; not under Sprint or Nextel since the two companies merged. Is this a valid debt? or am I victim of identity theft?
What do I do now since it's still in my credit report.
Is it on all 3 credit reporting credit reports? You should go to each of them and see and if it is file a dispute immediately, let them know that you contacted sprint and nextal and that the account does not exist with them. You may do better off writing them a letter that way you could go into greater detail, put the account numbers and the phone numbers that you called on the dispute so that they get the same group of people that you spoke to so that they get the same response.
Who is the collection agency? Have you sent them a debt validation letter? If you truly think that you are a victim of identity theft then you need to file a complaint with your attorney generals office and your local police department. You can then send a copy of both to the credit reporting agencies.
goodluck with this, it really should not be hard to get this resolved, please come on back if you have other questions.
an account out of nowhere
Thanx! yeah its in all 3credit bureaus and its Harvard Collections tho I have yet to send them a DV letter; I just found out but this site today. But would a DV letter reaged the account??? it's weird but the credit report says the date of status of 12/2007 that last date reported was 08/2008 when I asked for more information and due to come off July 2009. And once it comes off would it be considered a "charge off'? what would that mean to my credit report?
Hi Klagunilla
You should immediately send a debt validation letter to the collection agency at the address given in your credit report. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the collection agency need to validate the debt within 30 days, else they need to remove the listing from your credit report. If they cannot validate the debt, and at the same time do not remove the listing, you can dispute the listing with the bureaus and the bureaus will get it removed from your report. You should always send the DV letter by certified mail.