My wife just got a call from a CA about a $150 bill that never got paid to the plumber to fix the water leak in the house I live in but don't own. I never got a bill in the mail for this (it happened about 9 months ago - I know I did not miss 9 of them). Talked to the landlord he said that he never got billed for it either (showed me a bill showing that he had a $0 acct. bal. as of 9-15-07). So whats the deal? They had to have charged it to me, but I never got the bill. But it's not even my bill, so how do I deal with this without getting this on my CR? Call them up and say "hey, it's not mine"? Thanks in advance for the help.
Call the plumber who did the work and explain the deal to them. You should explain that you are just the tenant and you might need to give them the address and phone number of your landlord. The plumber should straighten it out and send it to the right person. If it does get onto your credit report it should come off just as quickly once you explain the mix-up. At the same time, if the CA called you, they have 5 days to deliver the FDCPA-required information or they've violated the law. You might want to keep track of their actions in case you want to take them to court for a little extra spending money.
It is good advice (as posted above) to contact this plumber, but to be safe you need to cover yourself with the CA. If you have received the written notice from the CA, then write a letter disputing this bill, and your responsibility for payment. Add that you are responding to their phone call (of XX/XX/2007 date). Request "validation" of this debt, and that all further communications be in writing. Make sure to send this letter Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested, I know this is a pain, but it is well worth it. Make sure to follow up on this issue, these things have a way of going on and on, if not squelched immediately.
