Does anyone know if it is legal for a company to add an old bill?

Question

to a new one even though it is basically the same company now. for instance and ATT cell phone that cut off due to a sister in law adding phones without consent and having an $800 bill over 2 years ago and now having a Cingular cell phone for the same period since the phone got cut off? Nothing has ever been said and I have fought with ATT for 2 years now. I have had Cingular for those 2 years and now they are saying they are going to add that bill to my current one. Can they do that? Should I make ATT Send me the signed contracts or what can I do this is BS if you ask me cause I thought it was taken off my account because it was actually hers.

I just wanted to let ya'll know she did use my account without me knowing because the only way I found out was when I got the bill, this wasn't the first time she has done this because she got electricity and a credit card using her mothers name and no one has done anything with ID theft because it will cause such a ruckus in the family. She went to the local ATT store where she knew someone who I later found out got fired but without her turning the phones in ATT left it at that, and like you said told me because what was done was done and my responsilbilty but it is kinda hard to find her cause as soon as i found out she moved to tennesse

Also, ATT won't send me the copies of the signed contracts so I can prove to the Police that it is her signature not mine on the added phones and such.

Answer 1

Talk to an attorney - I guess it would depend on your agreement. This is one of the thousands of reasons why you don't need and shouldn't have a cell phone.

Answer 2

First of all, your sister in law stole your identity to get cell phones. That is illegal. If you don't take care of that problem legally, you are pretty much stuck with the bill.

To answer your question--no, ATT cannot add their bill to your Cingular account. It is two different entities. They would get into some major accounting issues, and a few accountants would end up in jail. Those are major corporations, they simply cannot mess with each other's financial statements.

Now back to my first subject; you are going to have to make a major decision about your credit and how important it is to you. You MUST ask for the signed contracts! It is key in proving that YOU did not sign them. You must contact the credit bureaus and tell them that your identity was stolen and cell phones were purchased. You need to file a police report or it probably will not be removed from your credit.

If you go on feeling sorry for sis in law, you are going to end up getting shafted. Even if she offers to pay at this point, it would not help your credit. A paid collection is just as bad as an unpaid collection (yes, you read correctly). You have to get it removed from your credit, and you have to make sure that you are not held responsible for this debt. The collection agency doesn't care that your sis in law did this to you. They just want to collect their piece of the pie.

P.S. you said your sis in law did this without your consent, but, if you had her as a user on your account, you may still be held liable. I would definitely get the contracts to see if she is listed as an authorized user on your account.

P.S.S. I honestly doubt that Malibu93 is a Finance Specialist and some of the statements he made are ridiculous. Even if the companies did merger, if it did not happen at the time that you signed the 1st contract (or any contract for that matter) they cannot merge the two bills. Even if they sold your debt to another collection agency, it will have to be two different accounts (if you owe for both accounts).

It's not impossible for a relative to get your account info without your permission, much of the fraudulent activity (that occurs on accounts) is done by family members--they know or have access to most of your personal information.

If your sis in law did this illegally, it is NOT your debt and you do NOT own it.

Answer 3

Hey;
I'm a finance specialist who deals with people with credit problems, and I hate to say it, but, this sounds like a typical story.
Your first problem is that you claim that your sister-in-law was adding phones without your consent. this is the typical stupidity (sorry) that I hear everyday. It was YOUR account, therefore YOUR responsibility. PERIOD!! Plus, it was impossible for your relative to get to your account without your permission in the first place.
I believe that AT&T and Cingular have had some sort of merger. Even if I'm wrong about that, it is perfectly legal for any company to assign it's debts for collection, so I think you have to either pay the bill, or get a pre-paid phone.(they can still go after you for the money).
As to your last statement, no company will take you off your own account because you were foolish enough to let someone else abuse it. Your debt, you own it.
Sorry sweetheart!

Answer 4

You need to deal with AT&T and get it off. But legally I believe they can, if it was your account, you are responsible for it by definition. But you have a right to dispute it and talk them into going after her for fraud. If you do nothing, and don't deal with it, it is going to affect your credit down the road. Not to mention they could turn it over to a collection agency and really jack with your credit. You should call them as soon as possible and try and get it taken care of.

Answer 5

Contact a lawyer. If your name was on the contract with hers, you can't legally remove your name w/out her consent. (similar experiences with contracts)

Answer 6

close all your phones and get a pay as you go phone until this is resolved..otherwise they will tack on interest on the bill...........good luck