collection attempts on a 20-yr-old debt

[burningdesigner]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? TX

Back in 1985, I had a dispute w/ President & First Lady/Bally's gym. I paid cancellation fees w/ money order and sent certified mail, only to have them say they never received. They reported me for the amount of that crazy 3-yr contract they have you sign....

Anyway, it was on my record for 7 years and fell off several years ago. I am still receiving collection letters, and collection agencies are still inquiring w/ the credit bureaus, which is reflecting on my records and appearing as if I still have an outstanding debt.

Isn't this harassment? Who can I contact to make it stop and have the blemishes removed from my records?

[Debt Guy]

This debt is clearly outside the statue of limitations for Texas.


I recommend that you send a letter certified mail, return return receipt requested. Keep it simple. Just say "I dispute this debt" and "this debt is time-barred under Texas statute" and "cease and desist all contact with me".

If they continue to contact you and pull your credit, the only thing you can do is to bring a lawsuit for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

[debtcollector`]

Originally Posted by burningdesigner

appearing as if I still have an outstanding debt.

If you didn't pay it you do have an outstanding debt.

Option one: Send a CD letter
Result: Debt gets packaged up and sent to another agency or sold to another agency. Then they do their research and pull your credit report and start collections. You may have to repeat this step more than 5,000 times as there are more than 5,000 CAs in America

Option two: Offer to settle for 25 cents on the dollar or less. Get the agreement in writing before making payment. Then make payment through tracable source.

Option three: Pay it in full.

Option four: Prove the debt had been payed at time of cancelation and sue the OC for defamation, yada, yada, yada...

Note, a money order receipt is proof that you bought a money order -- not proof of payment.

DC