Re-aging

[syborrego]

What is the name of your state? CA
I have a CC account that I have not made a payment on since 1997. I Got a letter from an CA requesting payment just today. I reviewed my CR and the account has a DOLA of 05/2001 and in the status section is says it is a paid / sold account. My question is how can they change the DOLA? Does the account now fall under the SOL and they can institute a suit?
Thank you!

 

[Ladynred]

Legally they CAN"T change the DOLA, that would be illegal re-aging of the debt. If you stopped paying in early 1997, then the original debt has probably already fallen off your credit reports or is about to. If its still on there, call the credit bureaus and ask them to tell what the first date of delinquency was that preceeded charge-off. THAT is the correct date for the start of the reporting period.

If you have PROOF that the last payment made was in 1997, then you need to disipute the tradeline with the bureaus as illegally re-aged and obsolete.

As for the scumbag collection agency, I'd write them a cease and desist letter telling them to get lost - the debt is time-barred. If you don't have any proof of the 1997 date, then your best bet is to send them a debt validation demand letter and make them PROVE that its not. You can get sample validation letters and more infor on it at www.creditinfocenter.com