What should you do if a collection agency has re-aged an old debt?

Question

I have an account that will fall off my credit report soon. I just discovered that the account has been re-aged to look like I made payments a year ago.

Answer 1

What they have done is illegal.

You first need to contact both the credit reporting agency and the company that provided the information to the CRA. Tell them in writing what information you believe is inaccurate and why.

Under The Fair Credit Reporting Act the information provider is required to investigate and report the results to the CRA. If the information is found to be incorrect, it must notify all nationwide CRAs to correct your file.

If you do not get anywhere with this, call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or go to www.ftc.gov.

Answer 2

Four must be a collector since heshe believes it is not illegal

Spifiman is correct

You should also check to see where you stand with the collecting SOL in your state. (you might click on my profile and do some reading in the links I have listed)

Send the collector a debt validation letter. Include in the letter that they provide proof of the alleged payment. Demand that they send you a copy of the check, money order, cashiers check that was used to make the alleged payment.

Do not sign the letter, only print your initials or type your name
Signatures have a nasty habit of jumping from paper to paper in the hands of collectors
Send the letter certified mail return receipt.

When your receive the signed green card back file disputes with the CRA's for the trade line.

If the collector fails to provide validation and proof of the payment and verifies the trade line, file complaints with the FTC, BBB, your AG and the collectors AG.

Then redispute with the CRA's and include a copy of your FTC complaint.

If it's verified again, sue the collector.

Answer 3

its not illegal for a debt/collection agency to do that,youve obviously ignored it hoping it would go away,seems like they aere beating you at your own game.and people wonder why interest rates are so high,geez,i wonder.

Answer 4

oooh. that's got to be illegal.