something thats not on your credit report?

Question

my boyfriend got his 3 credit report( the one from all 3) well for the past month somone(collection company) keeps calling saying he owes on an electric bill from 1999, but he has never had a electric bill in his name, he was only 19 at the time, and the address they tell him where the bill (electric) is from a house that has never existed-we check it out, and he has a friend in the law enforcement, and they said their is no such address, or their has never been such , and its not even on his credit report, but they tell him his SSN, and birthday, and its right, and they keep calling,

how can they do this? and what can we do about it being false-counting it hasn't even been on his credit

it's not on his credit report, so how are they able to do this, also counting what i said that the address of the supposed house that had this electric "bill" came from has never existed

Answer 1

have the company mail or fax you all of their info that they have on it

Answer 2

Unfortunately collections people are a) paid on commission and b) lied to constantly, so they tend to be pretty hard-nosed about this stuff.

If this debt is from 1999, it is outside the statute of limitations for reporting on his credit. It may or may not be outside the statute of limitations for him to be sued over.

He needs to try and get the name and address of the company and his account number. Maybe he can convince them to mail him something (doubtful) or he can simply write down the name and request their address. He'll probably have to be very demanding because, as I said, they get paid on commission so its easier when someone just gives in and pays while they're on the phone.

Once he has the company's address, he can write them and tell them no more phone calls. Personally, I would send this letter certified mail returned receipt. Then, if he gets a call after he receives the green slip, he can sue the company for each call. He can also use that information to convince the company to stop calling.

He can also request the company show proof that this is his account, how he owes this money, how he owes it to THEM, etc. Or, if he isn't in danger of being sued, he can also tell them not to contact him by phone, mail or any other method, as the account isn't his and they have no right to collect. Period.

If activity doesn't stop on the account, you can turn the company over to your state Attorney General, or you can sue them in small claims for every violation of various fair credit acts.

Very frustrating - good luck.

Answer 3

It's one of two things. Either a collection agency bought a bunch of very old debt and is skip tracing trying to beat the bushes for payment or it's a scam trying to scare or bug you till you give them money or whatever.

Get an address for the collector and send a letter, certified mail, return receipt requested. Indicate the debt is not yours and request detailed written proof that this debt does belong to you and if they cannot provide such proof, to never contact you again. Keep a copy of the letter with your important financial papers.

They will either just go away or will sell the debt off to another agency. You would have to send a letter to them. Don't talk to these people on the phone.

Answer 4

He should get a letter from the electric company, indicating that he has never owed them a bill, and submit that with a letter to the Better Business Bureau and complain about the collection agency. He should also send a letter to the Consumer Protection Division of his state's attorney generals' office and ask for an investigation and resolution.

Answer 5

are you sure the collection agency are legit? I dont really know the US equivalent but in the UK, you can check a companies legitimacy through trading standards. This will tell you if someone is trying to run a scam on you...good luck!