What do you do if a CA acquires an old account from a previous CA who never validated properly, then starts filing negative TLs with the CRAs. But they never contact you directly? FDCPA says you have 30 days to dispute from when they first contact you. Is a a TL entry on your credit profile considered "contact"? (I wouldn't think so.) Or do they actually have to send you a letter in the mail? I disputed with the previous CA (several years ago) and asked for validation; they replied, but never properly validated. The latest CA showed up on my credit report around January of this year. I wrote them a dispute and validation letter in April, and they finally replied to it in mid-July, but only with proof they purchased it from the prior CA. I'm trying to figure out what to do. According to my records, the original debt has either exceeded SOL or will by the end of this month.
bump -- I appreciate that some of you guys enjoy beating dead horses here, but maybe you can take a few minutes to address something a ilttle different...
Check this thread out: http://consumers.creditnet.com/Discussions/credit-talk/t-subsequent-ca-strategy-38943.html
I'll second Butch's letter. It is as valid today as when he wrote it. There is just one little thing wrong with his post and that is that he didn't quite explain things good enough to add the needed authority to it. What he didn't actually come out and say is that it is an actual violation and you can file a lawsuit on it which you should win if you file in federal court.
