HELP Collections is after me and its not my debt???

Clocker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,353
0
76
I recently moved from the Midwest to Westcoast and i checked my credit report. And it states that in 2005 I used a towing service for a black cadillac and the bill was for 1200.00.

Holy Moly

Crazy thing is that i do not own a black cadillac and i have always paid my debts. BTW I lived in the Midwest from 2003 to 2006.

Please any advice.

The collections says i should pay it. And they are willing to give me a settlement.

WTH its not my debt? Isnt this illegal or something.

Please advise.
 

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
Mistaken identity, happens all the time. What you can do is ask them to prove that it's YOUR car, call the big three and file a dispute.

It's a lengthy process but you'll be cleared in no time.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
if they can't prove it is your debt, they have to remove it from the credit report and the collections must stop asking you for the money

send a drop dead letter to the collection company and write the credit reporting agency disputing the debt

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/drop_dead_letter.html
(Date)

To Whom it may concern:

I have been contacted by your company about a debt you allege I owe. I am instructing you not to contact me further in connection with this debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law, you may not contact me further once I have notified you not to do so.

Sincerely,

(Name)

(Account No.)
 

Clocker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,353
0
76
well this really sucks. because that mark on my credit report may affect my credit score and i am in the process of buying a house. i would really like to sue this company for harrasment, irresponsiblity, for hurting my credit and possibly getting charged a higher interest rate.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
you are supposed to check your credit 3-6 months before you need your mortgage so that you can fix problems ahead of time

good luck
 

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
0
0
Originally posted by: Clocker
well this really sucks. because that mark on my credit report may affect my credit score and i am in the process of buying a house. i would really like to sue this company for harrasment, irresponsiblity, for hurting my credit and possibly getting charged a higher interest rate.

actually buying a house might help you out...they run your credit and will want all these credit issues resolved, and the mortgage broker will help you resolve them so that they can get the loan approved.
 

Clocker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,353
0
76
Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
Originally posted by: Clocker
well this really sucks. because that mark on my credit report may affect my credit score and i am in the process of buying a house. i would really like to sue this company for harrasment, irresponsiblity, for hurting my credit and possibly getting charged a higher interest rate.

actually buying a house might help you out...they run your credit and will want all these credit issues resolved, and the mortgage broker will help you resolve them so that they can get the loan approved.

thanks for the info everyone.

the house purchase was somewhat unexpected. a huge price reduction on several properties motivated me to purchase.

i checked my credit report, but didnt check transunion untill recently. yeah ur right i should check all 3.

but i really think it is wrong for these collections people to suggest that i pay a debt that is not mine. :|
 

huberm

Golden Member
Dec 17, 2004
1,105
1
0
send them a debt validation letter (google it). Wait for a response within 30 days. If no response, immediately send a letter telling them to take it off your report. If they still don't, you can sue them in small claims court.

 
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
81
First, request an official notice of the debt. If you claim that you haven?t received an official notice of the debt, they can?t contact you for a period until it?s clear you have received it. This is usually done via registered letter, so if you?ve already accepted a registered letter in regards to this debt, this tactic won?t work.

Second, dispute the debt. Just inform the collector in writing that you are disputing the debt. Until the collector can verify the debt and provide this evidence to you, they can?t contact you. This again gives you some breathing room to figure things out.

Third, contact your state?s attorney general. Specifically state your interactions with the persistent debt collector and ask whether or not this is within the guidelines allowed in your state. This can usually give you a tool to fight the most aggressive behavior.

Fourth, get their address and inform them in writing to stop contacting you. Once you do this, you can only be contacted in the event that a collector is taking a specific action in regards to you and your debt. If you catch them contacting you again without such a reason, you may have grounds for a lawsuit that could result in the forgiveness of your debt.

Text
 

Clocker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,353
0
76
I appreciate the help. I have this booked marked and i will be working on this next week. If possible i am going to see if i can take this company to small claims. I think this is riduclous for any collections agency to mark up your credit report just because you have the same name.
 

jlbenedict

Banned
Jul 10, 2005
3,724
0
0
Originally posted by: Clocker
I appreciate the help. I have this booked marked and i will be working on this next week. If possible i am going to see if i can take this company to small claims. I think this is riduclous for any collections agency to mark up your credit report just because you have the same name.

You probably will not have to take them to court. Most of these scumbag collection agencies tuck their tails between their legs really easy.


All that you really need is to request validation. Inform them that you was reviewing your credit report and came across their erroneous entry being reported; and that your financial records show that you have not had or currently have any financial obligation to that company.

*Edit*

Dartworth posted a kick ass link. I frequent there as much as ATOT
:p
 

jlbenedict

Banned
Jul 10, 2005
3,724
0
0
Here is the letter that I drafted that got a few collection agencies to stop reporting and drop like flies on a turd:

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to erroneous and derogatory information being reported on my credit reports. First off, I have no knowledge of your company nor have had any communication with your company. Most importantly, I do not have any contractual agreements with you, now or previously. This account and balance you claim is not mine.

Please provide me with full VALIDATION of this alleged account. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you. Should you be unable to do so within 30 days, I demand all items removed from all three of my credit reports immediately.

Please be advised that all future communications with me must be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter
 

Clocker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
1,353
0
76
i sent them a debt validation letter asked them not to call me and they still freakin call. i just do not get it.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
tell them to stop calling or you'll kill all their fvckin retarded kids.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
just tell them it isn't your debt
send them a drop dead letter, they have to send you documented proof it is your debt
(Date)

To Whom it may concern:

I have been contacted by your company about a debt you allege I owe. I am instructing you not to contact me further in connection with this debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law, you may not contact me further once I have notified you not to do so.

Sincerely,

(Name)

(Account No.)
http://clarkhoward.com/topics/drop_dead_letter.html
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
Originally posted by: Clocker
i sent them a debt validation letter asked them not to call me and they still freakin call. i just do not get it.

then you can sue them

sue them, under the fair debt Collection Practices Act, you will get $500 or $1000 , something like that for each violation