Collections Scams?
 

I know there was a recent post about this here, but I thought I'd ask and see what other 'scams' are floating about.

Here's the back story:

I had a CC from a bank, wasn't able to pay it while I was unemployed for some time. Years passed, forgot about it, got a phonecall from a collector last year some time about it. I'm gainfully employed now so I opted to pay it off. Got confirmation, all paid and dandy, Bank satisfied, collector satisfied, etc.

Yesterday I get the message... "You are pending legal action from XXX Bank, they are alleging fraud, theft, blah blah blah." I call them back today and they are trying to collect for the same CC!

I call the number back and they pull the same routine...

So is this common? For a debt to be settled and then yet another agency to try and collect on it as well? Should I worry that the 1st agency didn't report the matter resolved? My roommate warned me about something like this as well, when she applied for a pay-day loan (never got it) and an agency tried to collect on some ridiculous amount...

Don't waste your time responding. There's a wealth of information out there (try creditboards.org for one) but essentially by the time something gets to collections the damage to you has already been done and there's nothing to be gained by making additional payments. Perversely, doing the "right" thing and seeking to pay off the debt only hurts you more since the payment can show up as "new activity" on the account and reset the seven year clock for having it expunged from your credit report. Stupid disincentivization of doing the proper thing, but that's our system.

Yup.

Had an old phone bill collection pop up.

Did not recognize the number.

My wife says "that was your phone number at your Mom's house in XXXX"

Mom had sold that house nearly 20 years earlier and I had not lived there since college.

Checked my credit report, nope, not there.

Called phone company, they had left the line active for a couple of years after mom had sold the house and eventually charged it off. Woman at phone company tells me that they won't see a penny of what's collected and if I pay it then it will likely pop up on my report. She suggested I ignore it.

I took her advice.

Man, these people can get downright nasty on the phone. My cell is a prepaid T-mobil. Yeah, I'm a cheapskate, but the little I use it, $100 per year covers me.

Anyway, whoever had the number before me was quite a flake...Took me nearly a year to convince 'em that I'd never heard of the guy...

do NOTHING by telephone

write them back (or Email or even better fax) that you dispute the debt, have paid the debt, do not want them to call you or contact you again

at the bottom, put cc: [cons. affairs atty genl's office usually, your state]

make 2 copies; save one and send the cc to the AG's office

attach COPIES of any records of payment, if readily available

put it all in a file folder and hold onto it

if they call you again, they are breaking the law and you can either report it or sue them