I have a collection agency bothering me for a 16 year old debt, how can i get them to stop?

Question

This agency purchased this debt in 2006. I paid the bill off in 1993. I have written them to this effect but they still keep harrassing me. What laws in Ohio can i research to get them to get this off my credit and leave me alone? please help

Answer 1

Call them every single day, put them on hold a lot, photocopy a letter stating why you don't owe them the money, and fax it to them every single day...if you trun the harassing around, they will forget about you very quickly

Answer 2

Forget the attourney generals office on this one. My suggestiong to you is to go ahead and write your complaint the the FTC first to cover your tracks. You can do so online now! Then call your old credit card company and ask to speak to collections. They'll probably say something like they dont see your info or "I'm sorry sir that accounts been charged off," at which point you should ask to speak to a manager. When you get ahold of the floor manager tell he or she that you're checking on a old debt you thought you had paid off, tell them around when was your last payment to them and they'll look it up. They'll probably say yes sir you paid that off already at which point you'll start asking why the collections agency is tryint to collect on the debt after you paid. The manager will try to tell you that you should write a letter to the collections agency at which point you tell the manager that you would like them to send notice to the agency informint them that the debt its paid, its their duty not yours !!!
Meanwhile record your convos with the collecters. speak nicely but dont agree to anything. Ask for an address you can use as mail to them adn tell them that you dont engage in transactions over the phone. Do not tell them that you will be sending a paymetn through mail, just say you need a mailing address, you dont do transactions over the phone. Also ask for a phone number you can call back.

You want this information to help you prepare your suit because you will be suing the collections agency! Do voice recordings and save copies of your phone bill. Also document in writing. The voice recordings are to prove that the collections agency did call you as they will probably use a unlisted number. Match the voice recordings to times on your telephone bill before going to court. A civil complaint only cost about 15 bucks to the court. Once you file it a date and summons will be produced and sent to the agency. The will most likely want to settle because its cheaper to settle than fly out to where you are for a single day, they stand to lose a lot of money.

Answer 3

Send all copies of your proof directly to the 3 credit reporting agencies. Send another copy to the Attorney General in your state and report this company for unfair credit practices (trying to collect on a paid debt) and harassment. Send the last copy to this company so they know you've reported them to the credit agencies and the AG.

Answer 4

Send them a certified letter requesting they provide proof of this debt. Include in the letter a stipulation that they only contact you by mail and cease and desist any phone contact.

Make sure you keep a copy of the letter and proof of delivery. If the company continues to phone you, call your state attorney general and find out what you need to do to sue them for illegal collections and harassment.

Answer 5

Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think that is not accurate. Include copies (NOT the originals) of documents that support your claim. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Send your letter by certified mail (with return receipt requested) so you can document what the consumer reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

Answer 6

Report your situation to Ohio's Attorney General.

Answer 7

send disputes letters to the three credit bureaus. once you have done this, the company must show proof of unpaid debt. if the debt shown as paid, the credit bureaus will remove the collection account automatically. trust me!!

Answer 8

attorney general office cant advice on this.....if have sent a letter saying you wish not to be contacted by them..they have to Stop or face Fines...