Just received a collection notice - insurance lapse that is over 10 years old
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Anonymous
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I have excellent credit NOW. 10+ years ago, I was a poor deadbeat. I just received a collection notice for a car I bought in 2000, for an insurance lapse 2003-2004. ($3500!). Isn't it kind of late for the state of MD to come collecting? I don't have any of my records, but I know I never had a lapse of insurance. The car was repo'd (like I said, I was a deadbeat), so I don't know the exact date.
What do I do? |
Anonymous
| Bump |
Anonymous
| OP, can't you at least call your ins co and see if they can verify prior coverage? |
Anonymous
| I've heard that specifically, the state of MD will go after anyone, even when they have no basis. |
Anonymous
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I'd consult an attorney.
I'm guessing there's a time limitation on how long can pass between the lapse and when they go after you. |
Anonymous
| Well if you could send MD a letter attaching proof of insurance for the time in question it would save the price of a lawyer. |
Anonymous
| who is doing the collecting? the state? a collector who buys debts for pennies on the dollar? |
Anonymous
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OP here. Just got the notice in today's mail, final notice date 3/18. It's the first notice i've received!, and it's already sent to "Central Collection Unit", State of Maryland (Sounds like a Jack Bauer department for deadbeats).
I called my former insurance company, it took them a long, long time to backtrack the info & locate my old account. According to them, I closed the account in April 2003. This claim is from Sept 2003-Nov 2004. I know I did not have the car at that time. I don't know how to prove it. I do not have my old account number/info, or even the lender info from the vehicle. What a PITA! I'm really wondering if they have grounds to come after me. |
Anonymous
| Op, I'd write a letter stating the facts and your conclusion that you did own the car during the timfpeframe in question so that you owe nothing. This should be enough to shift the burden to them to prove that you owed the money. Lots of times it ends there. |
Anonymous
I agree. I had a similar notice from MD, years ago, and it did go away with a letter. |
Anonymous
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Rec'd something similar for a car I had repo'd (similar deadbeat story to you). When the car was taken, I cancelled the insurance but the repo company never turned in the plates.
I'm trying to remember what I did...I think I still had the forms from the repo company and I faxed those to MVA to prove that I no longer had possession of the car. Can you find out the repo company who took the car? Maybe call the old car company to get the name? Then, see if they will send you documentation on the repossession. Once you get it, that information will suffice to show you no longer had the car. It took me months of phone calling to clear up the issue (where I admittedly fell off a few times on follow-up), but once I got serious and got the information, it was a relatively easy fix. Ask for supervisors (and get names!) when you call though. Good luck! |
Anonymous
Not in my experience (14:10 here). The MVA doesn't have to prove anything (short of court action). They send you the bill and make you prove that you don't owe. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Just called the finance company that I used to purchase the car. They don't even have the information! It's too old. Records don't need to be kept for more than 7 years - how can they expect me to prove I had insurance? This is BS! |
Anonymous
I would ask the finance company to send you that information in writing. And then provide that to the MVA and see if that will suffice. Not really sure how they expect you to resolve this. Have you called and spoken with a supervisor? |
Anonymous
| 12 year statute of limitations. |