I just got a call from a collection agency for my husband. I have seen them on his CR and disputed it but it came back verified so I wrote a validation letter but haven't gotten it sent yet. I thought it was a medical bill that was supposed to be paid by workman's comp but the date she gave me today doesn't match so I have no idea what it is or if it is valid. I told her that I wouldn't pay it unless she proved it was hubby's. She wanted to know why after all these years I would suddenly wonder if it was mine. Well, because I had no idea it existed. She says that they have sent letters but I honestly have never seen them. SHe says that it is my job to prove that it isn't my debt. I don't think so. She also said they found us by doing a skip trace. We moved from Idaho in 1997. We have always don mail forwarding with the post office and always have a listed phone number so we are not hard to find. It will fall off his report in 1 year. Luckily it is from Idaho and their SOL is only 5 years so I guess they can't sue us. It's only $65 bill, like I wouldn't have paid a bill that small. It's now $104?? because of their interest. SHould I bother to validate? I don't think it hurts him much because it's so old. Funny how they contact me after I dispute it. Thanks, Kim
I'd still send the validation letter. If anything, it'll keep them off your back until they validate. And if it falls off in only a year, don't worry about it. You could offer to pay 25% for a removal (Get this in writing if they agree), otherwise turn the game on them and say "Hey - 25% is a lot better than 0% " Just my .02... GT
Collectors ALWAYS say they've been searching the world over for you. You could live next door to their offices and have a huge neon sign on your roof with your name, SSN and they'd still claim they had to hunt you down. (Yep! She's on her soap box.) They tell you this in order to justify they current contact. So don't fall for it. And no, it's not your job, but theirs to prove this debt is your hubby's, so validate, validate, validate. Put THEM on the defensive and make sure you only deal with them via mail from now on. <Ain't that right, George!!!>
