Originally posted by: OrByte
once you have been referred to a credit agency it affects your credit score. The agency can also affect your score by documenting how late you are on payments, among other things.
pay the bill man, it isnt worth the damage that will happen if you don't.
Actually, you are wrong here, in a way that could mean a lot to the OP.
Your credit score is
not affect immediately an account is referred to a 3rd-party collection agency. By law, there is a 30 day window period in which the possible debtor is allowed to dispute the legitimacy of the collection attempt. Most valid in this case would for the OP to claim that they have the wrong person or that he never authorized the charges. Without a valid SSN, address, or phone #, the collector is going to have a rather difficult time, and the collection should be dropped. This dispute process occurs in the first 30 days though, so moving quickly is important.
Consumers have a lot of protection against collectors, and for good reason. A few months ago, a major nationwide publicly-traded collection agency tried to come after me for a debt simply because the actual debtor had the same last name as I and lived in the same zip code. They told me that, because we had the same last name and lived nearby, we were likely relatives, and that "relatives can legally be held responsible for debts." Of course, that is a complete lie, and an attempt at fraud by the collection agency (even though this person was not even my relative). Needless to say, I successfully disputed the collection action, and filed a state AG complaint against the collection agency. Apparently, this tactic is becoming common.
The point here is that your credit score is not affected immediately after an account has been referred to a collector. You have the right to dispute the collection, and the burden of proof is on the collector. They must prove that the debt is valid, that you are actually the person responsible for the debt, and that the debt was originally incurred with your knowledge and consent.
Another example... some years ago the WSJ started delivering to my porch each morning. I called them up and told them that I had not subscribed and did not at that time wish to. The CSR told me that I was the lucky winner of 6 weeks of free subscription. Great, I said, as long as its free. 4 weeks later, I get a bill in the mail (and the WSJ ain't cheap btw). I called up again and was told a totally different story, that I hadn't won anything and that now I owned them for the 6 weeks. Of course, I cancelled on the spot, and told them they would never see a dime from me. Some months later, they sent me to collections. I disputed it and won on the basis that WSJ was never able to document a single instance where I had actually agreed to the subscription. I also filed a federal complaint against them for violation of mail-order laws. Funny thing is that I work in finance, so I might have otherwise subscribed to the WSJ, but now never will because they are clearly an unethical company.
My credit score btw was 789 mid-score using the real FICO model last I checked it (2 months ago), and lending people money is my business. Just FYI.
The OP may be responsible for the frat fees if he signed for them in the past, and then for up to the contractual period that he may have signed for, or until quit participating in the frat (read fine print). So they debt may be actual and it could affect his credit. With the missing and fictitious information however, he may be able to dispute on the basis that the collector will not be able to prove that he is the actual debtor.
edit:
Future Shock, FACTA prevents companies from obtaining and/or reporting credit information without social security #'s and a verifiable home address. Just because something is possible doesn't mean it's legal.
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