Do credit filing limits exist?

[dscurlock]

is there a law that says a credit has timely filing limits
on sending/or posting a debt?

Today I rec'd this notice that says i owe $$$ for
a debt that was from 1999... its not on my credit
report, and dang, this is 8 years ago and they are just
now attempting to collect? and to top this off while
im trying to think back, she is ragging me off on the
phone to pay, pay now, etc... and im starting to think if they even have a case, sounds kind of fishy trying to collect 8 years later...she even tried to get me to confess right on the phone that it was my debt, and when I told her i could not remember, she kept going on about either it is or isnt...she seemed a little incompetent when i asked for more verification on the debt.

any ideas?

Thanks

[keepmine]

Chargeoffs should be listed for 7 years. I'd dispute the debt as obsolete and illegally reaged by subscriber.
Send a letter to the collection agency denying any knowledge or recollection of the alleged debt and ask that all further comunication be by mail. State as your validation demand that you want some competent evidence that the alleged debt is your responsibility. Send the letter CRRR. Don't talk with them on the phone anymore.

[dscurlock]

the problem with this is, its never been on my report at all... I just got the collection letter yesterday, and called them, they told me it was a 1999 bill, and it will be submited to my credit report if i did not pay...I am curious, can a company wait that long then send a bill after 8 years....but I will do that, i have 30 days to disput this, and Im using the option...they are also inconsistent, on the phone they said it was for phone charges, on the back of the collection letter, it says it is for GPU energy at some address that ive never lived at....

[treehugger1]

It sounds as if you definitely need to dispute this and require validation. Watch your credit reports and dispute and ask the CRA's to verify.

In terms of statutes of limitations, it is my understanding that the SOL only refers to the amount of time that a creditor or collector has to take legal action. They can still attempt to collect on the debt, they just have no legal recourse. This is why some CA's will try to re-age the debt. I would definitely not communicate with these folks at this time.

[GoingDown]

the problem with this is, its never been on my report at all... I just got the collection letter yesterday, and called them, they told me it was a 1999 bill, and it will be submited to my credit report if i did not pay...I am curious, can a company wait that long then send a bill after 8 years....but I will do that, i have 30 days to disput this, and Im using the option...they are also inconsistent, on the phone they said it was for phone charges, on the back of the collection letter, it says it is for GPU energy at some address that ive never lived at....

If it has never been on your credit repot, there is a good chance that it is a case of mistaken identity by the collection agency.

Sometimes, when they can't find the real debtor, they go after anyone with a similar name and try to make them pay it instead.

Send a letter disputing the validity of the debt.

Do not talk to them on the phone! Do not give them any personal information such as your date of birth or your social security number, or else you will probably see this debt end up on your credit report.

It sounds like it is far beyond the statute of limitations and is a time-barred debt. That means that they can not win a lawsuit against you. All you would have to do is file a written answer to the lawsuit in court stating that it is a time-barred debt and you would win. They know this and so they are desperate to get you to pay anything on it which would reset the statute of limitations time for this debt, and then they could sue you.