Problem with Collection Agency

[Greaser]

HELP PLEASE! Problem with cable company

Washington State -

History
5 years ago I had a cable company called Summit Cable. I moved and then a year or so later I bought a house where I hooked up cable from Millennium Digital Media (MDM) . I have been a MDM customer for the last 3.5 years.

A month ago I ran my credit report. A collection agency apparently said I owed them $100.00. The creditor turned out to MDM.

Apparently they purchased Summit Cable 5 years ago right after I moved. They said I never left a forwarding address. (I disagree)

Anyhow - I am fuming about this. I don't know whether I owe the money or not since I didn't keep bills from that long ago. I am more than willing to pay. I am miffed they waited 5 years before doing anything about this.

I have asked for proof of debt from MDM. (not the collection agency) I have not seen anything yet.

My problems and questions are this:
1). what are the responsibilities of the collection agency to try and contact me? I had no idea this was here.

2). (not that I was trying to avoid anything but) isn’t the Statue of Limitations for collection 4 years? Would hitting the credit report be a form of collection?

Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want this on my report. I would have paid this years ago if I would have known.

Please help! Or am I smoking crack thinking this is just wrong!

 

[Ladynred]

1). what are the responsibilities of the collection agency to try and contact me? I had no idea this was here.

None, they have no responsibility to find you. They can report w/o ever sending you a single letter, happens all the time.

2). (not that I was trying to avoid anything but) isn’t the Statue of Limitations for collection 4 years? Would hitting the credit report be a form of collection?

SOL is 6 years for a written contract which would be where cable services fall.
Yes, hitting your credit report IS a form of collection per the FTC.

Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want this on my report. I would have paid this years ago if I would have known.

You started off right, request an accounting of exactly what it is they're charging you for.

Unfortunately, its already ON your reports and unless you can successfully negotiate a 'pay for deletion' deal, its going to stay on your reports for the usual 7 years + 180 days.

 

[Greaser]

URGH! This is so frustrating. What is the value of of them waiting for many years?

You say SOL is 6 years for written contract. How is that considered a written contract? I ordered the service via the phone by calling them up. So that should be verbal shouldn't?