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

[stonecold3169]

I too got a NCO collections notice from AOL two days ago... never had aol or done a trial.... weirdness

 

[Queasy]

I just got the same letter today for the exact same amount. WTH is going on? I haven't had AOL since the late 90s.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Queasy
I just got the same letter today for the exact same amount. WTH is going on? I haven't had AOL since the late 90s.

Maybe there is a scammer going around, hitting people that had AOL accounts.

 

[Gunslinger08]

This has identity theft written all over it. Do not give them any information. Monitor your credit report and alert the credit bureaus if anything appears on your report that shouldn't be there.

 

[Yzzim]

Have any of you signed up for the ****** website? Where you had to signup for AOL for a month or so and then you could immediately cancel your membership. Just wondering if maybe it was never cancelled?

Edit: I guess FREE_IPOD is a banned word? lol.

 

[dartworth]

You should respond to NCO's dunning letter with a debt validation letter.

Under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act, you are allowed to challenge the validity of a debt that a collection agency states you owe to them. Use this letter and the following form to make the agency verify that the debt is actually yours and owed by you. Keep a copy for your files and send the letter registered mail.

Your Name
123 Your Street Address
Your City, ST 01234

ABC Collections
123 NotOnYourLife Ave
Chicago, IL

Date:

Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me on September 30, 2002). Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for ?verification? or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.

Please provide me with the following:

# What the money you say I owe is for;
# Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
# Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
# Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
# Identify the original creditor;
# Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
# Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
# Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureau?s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

* Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
* Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
* Defamation of Character

If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following Declaration, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.

Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.

If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.

I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.

It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.

Best Regards,

Your Signature
Your Name


debt validation info

 

[bennylong]

NCO is always trying to collect debt from me. They are still trying to collect debt for accounts I never had, that's over 10 years old. Everytime they call, I use the Peter Griffith line " Statue of Limitation! Statue of Limitation!"

 

[Queasy]

I just made a post over at the Clark Howard Ripoff Forums about this. (Link)

Maybe someone there will know.

 

[nissan720]

I think dartworth has the winning answer!

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: nissan720
I think dartworth has the winning answer!

Yeah, I think I'm going to do that. The fact that my letter has a collections amount for the exact same amount as the OP tells me that this is some sort of fraud or scam that NCO is pulling.

 

[ElFenix]

i like certified mail, return receipt requested, myself. certified is certification that you sent it, return receipt is certification that they received it.

registered mail is for valuables, like bearer bonds.

 

[ForumMaster]

i knew AOL actively deny's you cancelation, but singing you up? this sounds like a scam. don't do give them any info.

 

[tikwanleap]

Yeah, it looks like a scam.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n...LD,GGLD:2004-28,GGLD:en&q=nco+aol+scam

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=15985

http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=AOL&submit2=Search!&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0

Funny thing is that they all have the exact same amount owed... $95.60!!!

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i knew AOL actively deny's you cancelation, but singing you up? this sounds like a scam. don't do give them any info.

That is why you send the DV letter. The burden of proof is on them (NCO).

BTW, NCO are scum bags. Make sure you document every piece of mail and phone call from them. I suggest not talking to them on the phone. If you do however, I would suggest you record any phone call from them.

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: supafly
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.

NCO has done this before. Google the companies name and you will find out what I mean.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
This has identity theft written all over it. Do not give them any information. Monitor your credit report and alert the credit bureaus if anything appears on your report that shouldn't be there.

Yes. Either that, or they're just trying to bully you into paying, hoping you're one of those people that thinks, "Well, I probably don't owe this but better safe than sorry."

 

[altonb1]

1 month to go and I can cancel my 1 year subscription to AOL. I hope I don't have to deal with this crap, though.