Reply to How do I handle a debt turned over to a collection agency?

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[quote=Anonymous]You may not owe the original creditor. If the debt was sold, you owe the new creditor, not the original creditor.

I'm an attorney and I've helped a number of people with old debt/zombie debt.

Here's my advice:

1. Tell them not to contact you by phone. Tell them to contact you in writing only. They have to adhere to that request. 
2. Tell them not to contact you at work. They have to adhere to that request.
3.  Tell them that you want them to provide you with evidence that 1) you owe the debt and 2) that you owe the debt TO THEM. They must give this to you in writing.
4. Do not pay them anything or promise to pay them until they give you proof in writing that you owe the debt to them.
5. Monitor your credit reports to make sure that this isn't being reported. If it is on your credit report, send a letter to the credit reporting agency stating that you don't owe the debt and you would like them to verify the debt with the credit agency. If they can't verify the debt, then it will be removed from your credit report.

9 times out of 10, the credit collection company cannot provide any evidence that you owe them what they say you owe them or that they have the right to collect the debt. It's just zombie debt, wandering around out there. They will give up trying to collect it from you and sell it someone else for 10% of what they paid for it. Then that person will try to collect it. Repeat the process again.

TL:DR -- Don't pay collection agencies unless they can show proof that you owe them. [/quote]

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