Got a letter from a collection agency saying I owe AOL $95

[Leros]

I got a letter today from a collection agency saying that I owe AOL $95 for internet service in 2004. The thing is, I've never had AOL in my life. I don't use any AOL services except for AIM, which is free.

WTF? How could this happen?

The letter said I had 30 days to file a dispute, so I did. Can this possibly turn out in my favor?

this is bullshit.

update:
I got some more information.

The bill is for $95.60 from November 2004.

According to them, I made my last payment on April 2005 using my debit card, which I did have in April. However, I'm looking back on my records and there are no unusual charges at all.

The collection agency is NCO as DayLaPaul said. So things sound legit. Hopefully the dispute will take care of things.

 

[Heisenberg]

Check your credit card records for fraudulent charges.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Check your credit card records for fraudulent charges.

I dont have a credit card. I didnt have a debit card until 6 months ago. (Im 18 btw).

 

[EGGO]

You should be good if you really never used them. Update as this continues.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Check your credit card records for fraudulent charges.

I dont have a credit card.

Ah. Well still, the first thing to find out is how you were supposedly charged by AOL.

 

[brtspears2]

Don't you have to be an adult to open an account with AOL or with any agreement?

Since you hint you are 18 now, and the collections claim 2004, that makes you 16?

 

[mb]

Who is the letter from, and what is this collection agency?

It's either a clear mistake, or a scam. Obviously use your common sense and do not give them any personal information.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: brtspears2
Don't you have to be an adult to open an account with AOL or with any agreement?

Since you hint you are 18 now, and the collections claim 2004, that makes you 16?

he didn't really hint, he came flat out and said it

 

[chuckywang]

I know that AOL doesn't want you to cancel their accounts, but now they're signing you up whether you want to or not?

 

[Balt]

Sounds like a scam. They chose a large company (AOL) because a lot of people have had an AOL account at some time or another.

 

[DaWhim]

what is the collection agency's name? google that. it may be some bad ones trying to pull a fast one on you.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
what is the collection agency's name? google that. it may be some bad ones trying to pull a fast one on you.

I don't actually have that information with me. I'm at college and this got sent to my house. So my dad is taking care of it for me. He did tell me the company and we looked it up. Looked legit, I'll try to get the information from him tomorrow.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Did you participate in one of those free ipod scams where people defrauded companies like AOL so the scammers could collect referral fees?

If so, you might have signed up then and not properly cancelled.

 

[DayLaPaul]

AOL uses NCO Financial as their collection agency, I believe. While they like to huff and puff, most people have found that NCO will fold once you ask them for validation.

http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-re...ice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238267

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Did you participate in one of those free ipod scams where people defrauded companies like AOL so the scammers could collect referral fees?

If so, you might have signed up then and not properly cancelled.

bwahahahahahaha

NO WAY.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Sounds like a scam to me, make sure you don't give them any info.

What is the name of the company? Just because they look legit doesn't mean anything. Also the scammers might just be using a company name. Right now you sound like you are about to set yourself up for the scam.

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Did you participate in one of those free ipod scams where people defrauded companies like AOL so the scammers could collect referral fees?

If so, you might have signed up then and not properly cancelled.

bwahahahahahaha

NO WAY.

looks like we hit the nail on the head

 

[Babbles]

I loathed AOL when I had them for a very brief moment of time ~12 years ago (2400 baud modem!). They tried to screw me over when I cancelled my account and now it looks like they are trying to screw over others that never had AOL to begin with.

Nice.

 

[Queasy]

Sounds like a scam but I'd check your credit report anyways.

 

[pontifex]

never even used one of the free trial thingers?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: pontifex
never even used one of the free trial thingers?

Nope, I didnt have a phone line hooked up during this time, so a free AOL trial would have been useless to me. My family has been 100% cell phone for 5 years or so.

 

[ElFenix]

call up AOL and see what they say about it.

 

[wgoldfarb]

I would also think that this is a scam. Make sure you do not send them any personal information. Ask them for validation of their claim. Say you never used AOL, so you need to see some documented proof that you owe them anything. If they say they need some information from you, I would reply that if they were really hired by AOL and this was a legitimate claim, they should already have all personal information they need to provide verification of this claim.

On second thought, I would not even contact them. I think Elfenix's suggestion to call AOL directly is the best thing to do. AOL could confirm whether this is legit. If it is not, then let AOL know that there is a scammer using their name.

[edited for typos]

 

[Leros]

I got some more information.

The bill is for $95.60 from November 2004.

According to them, I made my last payment on April 2005 using my debit card, which I did have in April. However, I'm looking back on my records and there are no unusual charges at all.

The collection agency is NCO as DayLaPaul said. So things sound legit. Hopefully the dispute will take care of things.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: Leros
I got some more information.

The bill is for $95.60 from November 2004.

According to them, I made my last payment on April 2005 using my debit card, which I did have in April. However, I'm looking back on my records and there are no unusual charges at all.

The collection agency is NCO as DayLaPaul said. So things sound legit. Hopefully the dispute will take care of things.

Did you call AOL?