Being Haunted by Company from 5 yrs ago

[GinaG754]

What is the name of your state? California

I purchased a pager for my daughter in Dec 1999. I paid for 6 months service & then she took over. She paid another 6 months & changed companies. I just received a notice 1 week ago from the initial company stating they had turned my account over to collections. This was the first time I heard from them since 2000. They are charging me for the service plus 4 years interest. They claim that my daughter did not notify them in writing of her intent to terminate service 5 years ago. They claim that they have sent me a statement every month for those 5 years. I never received them & I have not moved. My question is: is there a statute of limitations? I find it odd that they let this go for 5 years before turning it in to collections. If this is not legal & I refuse to pay, does it still go on my credit report? I called them when I received the letter. The collections person said the Owner does not speak to anybody so I could not discuss it with anyone but her. She as much as called me a liar when I told her I never received any statements all this time & if I had, they would have heard from me, as I was doing now. She said they have a computer printout proving (?) the statements were mailed. So? I could type up a list & say I did it. They have no proof of follow through. This all seems fishy to me. Does anyone agree? Thank you.

[zippysgoddess]

Sounds like you need to send them a debt validation letter, CMRRR. You can find more information for this letter at [url]www.creditinfocenter.com[/url] or [url]www.creditboards.com[/url]

Make them send you the proof, copies of the statments they supposedly sent, see what address they have on file and etc.

From what I can find online California has a 4 year SOL, so if the last payment the received from you or your daughter was over 4 years ago, then you can basically tell them to just go pound sand.

Definitely seems fishy.

[GinaG754]

Thank you. That was my thinking as well. I did request documentation proof & she sent a print out of dates the statements were allegedly sent. So? I could do the same thing. I guess I will write them a nice letter declining to pay a 5 year old debt. Is there any recourse should they go ahead & try to impact my credit report?