what do I do when I get a letter from a collection agency about an invalid credit card from 1992 I dont recall

Question

I do not recall having this credit card. I did file a bankrupcy around that time and it is not on the creditors list filed. This credit card is for over 5,000 dollars and I think I would of at that time rememberd to file bankrupcy on it if I even had this card! 16 years later they contact me (NCO financial systems) and the interest is over 13,000 dollars! When I called them, the only proof they had on this chase/assignee of providence mastercard was that a payment of 110.00 was made in July of 1992 and thats all they have. That is not enough proof for me. When I called Chase, there is no such account number. What are my rights? I dont think their going to stop hounding me about this, I received 2 bills, and the interest is increasing!!!

Please help,
Kim

Answer 1

call your original banckruptcy attorney. sounds bogus to me.

Answer 2

I recently read an article about how credit companys will somtimes still consider a debt owed even after a bankrupcy. I guess they just keep hassling the people and ruining their credit till person is forced to pay up or continue having there credit ruined. Ive also seen where the credit companies will sell the worthless debt from a bankrupcy to another company for bargin pricess and that company goes after the person. Im pretty sure none of this is legal. I would get a credit report ran and talk to a lawyer if you think this might be happening

Answer 3

Depending on the state in which you live, there is a statute of limitations that credit card companies have in order to recoup bad debt. If the charge-off occured in 1992 I don't think they can come after you 15 years later. The average person does not keep records that far back and would be unable to defend themselves in court.
However, if the card was opened in 1992 and the debt went bad a few years ago it may be a different story.
Check online about local credit card laws and see what you can find.

Answer 4

No sweat, all you have to do is dispute this, once you file a dispute they have 30 days to respond otherwise they must forfeit from hounding you and remove the negative marks they've made to the credit bureaus, by law.

If they do not respond within 30 days with significant proof this was your account, or even if they just don't respond, your clear and it should be out of your face as if it never happened, it won't even show in your credit reports.
You can either do it yourself or have some one do it for you for maybe 400.00 . If you do it yourself make sure when you write and send the letter to them that you have proof that you sent it with date and all. When you go to the post office tell them you need a tracking number for your letter so you can track your letter and have proof that you sent it.

Answer 5

First don't talk to NCO on the phone. They are on the low end of the scumball collection agencies.

Send them a certified letter, return receipt. Indicate that this is not your debt and way beyond the Statute of Limitations. Unless they can validate this debt, including contracts and other documentation proving this debt is yours, they should cease and desist contacting you.

They may sell the debt to another collector and you would have to send another cease and desist letter but legally they have to stop contacting you.

Check your credit report and make sure they haven't put this on your credit report -- they have been know to illegally re-age things.

Also watch out for a summons. They love to pull tricks to sue you and have you not show up.

Answer 6

Even if it were once a valid debt, the statute of limitations would have passed by now after all these years of no attempts to collect on the debt. I'm sending you the link by which to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Act. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

This link is to the page specifically regarding collection agencies - it's not long and it tells you how to get them to stop contacting you: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm

Answer 7

Sounds to me like it could be a classic case of ID theft! Absolutely get a copy of your credit report at
http://www.annualcreditreport.com You will get ALL three reports here and you don't have to pay or sign up for any service.
If it is ID theft, you can definitely dispute it.
The other thing you should be careful of is this. There are a TON of business' out there buying up old, uncollected debt from the big credit card companies and trying to collect it for themselves. If this is the case, they can not legally collect it from you unless you agree to pay them! Don't tell them anything other than you want THEM to produce ORIGINAL documentation showing your signature on the ORIGINAL agreement. Chances are they will never contact you again.
If you like you can download a free e-book at
http://www.howtogooru.com/lifeguard.html
It answers MANY questions like this and also will open your eyes a little regarding the "crookedness" of the industry!
If it is proven to be your debt, negotiate it down to pennies on the dollar.
Good luck!

Answer 8

Do not pay a dime. File a dispute and they should have to prove to you the charges are valid. Contact the consumer credit counseling service for more help.

Answer 9

tell them to send you all the proof, if they can't then don't worry about it. I believe they should contact you with in 5 years, not 16 years later. because where I work, I only require to keep papers for only 5 years.

Answer 10

This debt is more than 10years old. Use this website to get info concerning your question. You will find much valuable info regarding your rights in this case.

Answer 11

If they take you to court show up and claim it wasn't yours. Even if it was yours your statute of limitations is probably up. If you don't show up to dispute it they might get a judgment even after the SOL.