NCO portfolio nightmare

[satine]

What is the name of your state? NY

Upon a credit check I recently found a judgement on my credit. I immedialty went to the court to find out about this. I was told there was a default judgement against me by a Company by the name of NCO portfolio. I have never heard of this company. I read the Summons and it indicated this was a debt from an old AMEX, no account number given. The address they had listed was my old address from about 2years ago. They used my maiden name, which I haven't used scince 1990. My ex-husband saids that that the only Amex account we had was charged off in 1994 after serious medical issuses. He kept a copy of an old Credit report and it does say it was charged off in 1994 for $1000.00. I called AMEX and they confirmed that it was charged off in 1994. The Summons indicates that they served papers to a relative named "JANE + my maiden name". I don't have any relative living at that adress with my maiden name. How can they get away with such lies??. I did some research about this company and the Attorney's office that represent them in NY ( Mel S. Harris and Ass.). None of it is good!!!. They are a bunch of low life Criminals.
I did an Order to Show Cause to have this judgement vacated on the grounds that I was never served and I have proof-- I havn't lived at that address for two years.
Do I need an attorney?. I have a court date in two weeks. I would love to hear from anyone who have had this experince with these idiots.

[Ladynred]

Do I need an attorney?. I have a court date in two weeks

You would definitely do better against Mel S. Harris if you get a lawyer. He is a snake and has this very bad habit of serving summons' to bogus and ancient addresses on purpose just to get the easy default. Do a search for Mel S. Harris here -- you'll see for yourself this his their regular M.O.

If the debt was charged-off in 1994, the SOL would have run out in 2000.

[satine]

I did read about this lawayer, none of it good.

Any advise on where I can find a good lawyer for this?? I am driving myself crazy over this thing. Today I recieved a letter from my bank saying my account was on restraint and $100 was taken out for "legal fees" from Mel Harris and Asso. It's funny how they could not find me to serve me, but found my bank account with no problem.

What kind of tricks does Mel Harris use in court? What are they going to try to prove? If they do dare show up, can I introduce to the judge all the complaints and lawsuit against NCO? (FTC). I am collecting every piece of info about this company and thier sleazy tactics. I found a letter from another company ( RMA) back in 2003 about this debt and asking to set up a payment plan. There was three diffrent adress and phone number on the letter, I never responded. I wrote to all three credit agencies to dispute RMA on my credit history, they removed it. My credit has been clean, until this judgement showed up from nowhere. My FICO score dropped 50 points. I would love to hear from anyone that was sucessful in court against Mel Harris and NCO. I don't want this on my credit for the next seven years. If I get this thing vacated will it finally go away???? thanks