Attorney's office trying to collect a debt.

[worriedwendy]

Pennsylvania

Attorney's office keeps calling. Got a letter from them few days ago. Saying I owe money to a bank(Providian). To contact them in 30 days in writing, or the debt will be valid. I googled the telephone number and attorney's name. So many complaints with the same stories. I've read that some ppl were sending cease and desist letters thru certified mail, some filed complaints with their state attorney's office.

I might have had a providian account, but not sure because it would have been over 10 years ago. I know for sure of one debt about a decade ago, but that was paid off completey. I read on one of the forums that Providan is out of business. Is this true?

I checked my credit report a few days ago, and these jerks made an inquiry of my credit. Is these even legal? A few days after the inquiry, i got the letter from them. They are even calling my family's house in California looking for me. I feel that this is NOT right. What should i do?

 

[giggity69]

find out exactly when, if, you incurred this debt. if it was 10 years ago, they are barred by the SOL unless they tolled it somehow, which is unlikely. info may be on your credit report

 

[worriedwendy]

i checked my credit report

theres nothing about Providian

 

[giggity69]

maybe a mistake, either in identity or otherwise. contact the ca and see what info they can give you, if any. write the atty office a validation letter within the 30 days and send it CMRR. then they have to prove to you that you owe them, maybe they will realize whatever error has occurred.

 

[Zigner]

maybe a mistake, either in identity or otherwise. contact the ca and see what info they can give you, if any. write the atty office a validation letter within the 30 days and send it CMRR. then they have to prove to you that you owe them, maybe they will realize whatever error has occurred.

That is not entirely true...close though.

 

[giggity69]

agreed, they at least need to create a reasonable inference that the debt is valid and owed, but not irrefutable proof.

 

[Andy0192]

Zombie debt

There's way too many people getting calls like this.

They're just trolls, searching for people who might have had credit problems in the past that was probably written off long ago. They try to get you to acknowledge a past debt, and then arrange to make a settlement.

Beware Of Zombie Debt Collectors - Forbes.com

 

[eerelations]

Sounds like a scam to me, and very familiar - fake lawyer sends out a kazillion scary letters to people demanding money disguised as a legit debt and some people are so intimidated they actually pay up.

 

[justalayman]

and due to that, I would suggest contacting the attorney general of each possible scammee's state and the possible scammer's state. Maybe if they get enough complaints about any particular scammer, they will investigate.

 

[worriedwendy]

thanks to everyone who's responding....

I sent the letter to the attorney's office thru CM & RR asking them to stop calling me and asked for proof of whatever charges there are.
What if they respond with charges and then attempt to sue me?
What is the next step i should take? this is terrible.

 

[justalayman]

you defend yourself. nothing else you can do.

 

[TigerD]

I sent the letter to the attorney's office thru CM & RR asking them to stop calling me and asked for proof of whatever charges there are.
What if they respond with charges and then attempt to sue me?
What is the next step i should take? this is terrible.

Think this through. Did you actually send them a cease and desist letter and also asked them to contact you? Really? Think about that for a minute.

...

Okay. You have thought about it. Isn't that kind of like telling an assailant to stop hitting you, but you also want them to slap you?


Given the pointless letter you sent, I think it is likely that you will be sued. With the exception of Zigner and justalayman, almost everything on this thread is wrong.

Since you have moved past validation, good luck. You may well need it.

DC

 

[frustrated12]

If there hasn't been any activity on your old account for ten years then the SOL has ran out. If I were you I'd contact a lawyer on this one. All it will take is one letter from your lawyer, and if they really are illegally trying to collect, they will stop. You can get it taken off of your credit report, and you can probably make a little money out of the deal if you want to pursue that avenue. I would.