Hi there! My credit was run a few days ago as I was applying for an apartment. I hadn't ran it in years, like almost 10 years. There was a collection account on my credit from 5/2005. I had no idea what it was so I called the collection agency. Turns out it is an old utility bill from 2005 that for whatever reason I did not pay. Had no idea I owed them any money. I told the collection agency I didn't owe the debt. They went into their diatribe of wanting me to make a payment to them. I told them I don't owe the debt and don't owe them any money. I know I can walk into the gas company and pay the old debt. So, the lady just kept persisting. I told her I have breast cancer going through chemo (which is true) and not to contact me. She persisted on the payment issue. I told her she was stressing me out and discontinued the call. I signed up for a credit alert program. Sure enough I got an alert today. The company posted another collection on my credit. They updated the date to 6/2011. My score went down 24 points! Where is the fairness in this? I had no idea they were on my credit. I had no idea I owed this debt. It really was an oversight. I called them because I didn't know what it was. I plan on paying the gas company. My question is this: Once I pay the gas company I can have them removed from my credit, correct? I think that was pretty rotten to give me a new bad mark. But such as they are it doesn't surprise me. Is this common practice? Other than what I plan on doing is there anything else I can do? I have not contacted the gas company but I am pretty sure they will take my payment. If I went to the same gas company to get gas service, they would tell me I had a past due balance (even that far back) and make me pay it before they gave me service. Not a problem if I owe it, but I do not want to pay this collection agency a dime. Thank you for your thoughts!
Collection Question. Old Debt Renewed. Credit Score Went Do
I think, the SOL period in your state has expired. If it has expired, then the CA can’t take any legal action against you. You can contact with the CA and make a written request to them for a debt validation letter via certified mail with a return receipt request. If they don’t reply then send them a C&D letter and inform it to the credit bureau with sufficient proof. You can then request the credit bureau to remove the negative items from your credit report. Otherwise, it will be better for you to negotiate with the CA and arrange a better repayment plan with them to repay the debt.