Electric bill

[faithnlve]

What is the name of your state? VT...I received a bill from my electric company that I owed a bill of 300.00. This bill was owed in 1999. I did not even know it existed. I asked them why they waited so long, they could not answer me. I told them since it has been this long I refused to pay, since their credit department could not answer to why they waited so long. They are now sending this bill to me every month. They said legally I don't have to pay it, but they can legally keep sending it to me. Plus they said they put it recently into collections. Can they do that now? Thanks Faith

 

[moburkes]

What is the name of your state? VT...I received a bill from my electric company that I owed a bill of 300.00. This bill was owed in 1999. I did not even know it existed. I asked them why they waited so long, they could not answer me. I told them since it has been this long I refused to pay, since their credit department could not answer to why they waited so long. They are now sending this bill to me every month. They said legally I don't have to pay it, but they can legally keep sending it to me. Plus they said they put it recently into collections. Can they do that now? Thanks Faith

Yes. Did you check the statutue of limitations for your state?

 

[faithnlve]

yes, it was 7 years. So now its been past 7 years, so how can they put it into collections now? Faith

 

[racer72]

Is the power company a privately held company or is it a municiply owned power supplier? If the power company is municiply owned, ie, owned by the taxpayers for whom they supply power, your SOL defense will not apply. Much like taxes and traffic ticket fines, you can't get out of paying for things owed to the taxpayers of your town or state.

 

[faithnlve]

I called the public service dept. They told me that this electric bill they are sending me I do not have to pay. It is showing the word bankruptcy in notes also. Plus since I never received a bill since 1999 the period of years in which they can collect ended in 2006. I then spoke to a higher up at the electric dept to confirm everything, and they said that I do not have to pay it, but I may still receive a bill for it. What a mess. Faith

 

[msmedic]

Cease & Desist

You can send them a certified letter with return receipt, stating that they are to immediately cease communications with you. If they continue to send you a bill in the mail, then you can press the issue. If the statute of limitations in your state is 7 years, and it's clearly past that, they can't legally sue you for the debt. I believe they call the debt "time stalled" (someone correct me if I am wrong). They still can file a claim in court and you could be sent a subponea. Once you get to court, all you have to do is bring it to the judge's attention that the debt is past the statue of limitations.

If you owed the debt, you should have paid it.

 

[TigerD]

You can send them a certified letter with return receipt, stating that they are to immediately cease communications with you. If they continue to send you a bill in the mail, then you can press the issue. If the statute of limitations in your state is 7 years, and it's clearly past that, they can't legally sue you for the debt. I believe they call the debt "time stalled" (someone correct me if I am wrong). They still can file a claim in court and you could be sent a subponea. Once you get to court, all you have to do is bring it to the judge's attention that the debt is past the statue of limitations.

If you owed the debt, you should have paid it.

You are wrong on many levels. Actually as I reread this, I don't think you are correct about anything.

1. You cannot CD the OC.
2. Vermont has no law barring filing of lawsuit after the SOL. They can legally sue for the debt.
3. What the hell do you mean by time stalled?
4. SOL is an affirmative defense. However, in court you don't just bring something to the judge's attention. You have to do it right. And it will be up to the debtor to prove it.

DC

 

[SimpleMind]

colelct

Why would it be a mess? I don't understand why one letter each month could be so much of a problem? A mailed letter isn't as embarassing or harassing than if they call you at home, at work, your cell phone, your neighbors, or your relatives. Every other day..That WOULD be a mess.


I don't mind collection letters..

I called the public service dept. They told me that this electric bill they are sending me I do not have to pay. It is showing the word bankruptcy in notes also. Plus since I never received a bill since 1999 the period of years in which they can collect ended in 2006. I then spoke to a higher up at the electric dept to confirm everything, and they said that I do not have to pay it, but I may still receive a bill for it. What a mess. Faith