Help with Dept collection Attempt.

[tweakalot]

Hello everyone, although i have been reading here i am new to this forum and i appreciate your guidance. I have receive a letter in an attempt to collect a dept that doesn't seem accurate. I never knew i had an account with Household card (5418). Which states my purchase bal $4105.71 interest 24.00% Total bal =14583.02.
After checking my records, Equifax which has my FICO at 735 in 2007, was the only agency with a similar account. HouseHold Credit Services ACCT (5480) open 11/01 $0 bal Last reported 8/2003 Details: Charge Off Amount: $0 Major Delinquency First reported (0) Months reviewed 21 Type of Load: Credit Card.
According to this letter, "we can settle for 40% of the balance if i accept in 45 days." It goes on to say that, "Unless you notify our office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid.

Please advise on how i should handle this matter. thank you in advance for your suggestions. This site rocks!

[Trish]

If you are sure this is not your account.... (household/HSBC also uses other names like Orchard so make sure) and this is a CA, send them a DV quickly. Ask them for proof that the debt is yours. (there are some sample letters in the beginner's section)

That seems like A LOT of interest..... 10K on a 4K debt! :eek:
Is it a CA sending you the collection letter? Do you mind telling me which one it is?

[tweakalot]

thank you for such a quick response, The letter is not from the original Creditor, it's from a debt collector ( ALW sourcing, LLC)

[tweakalot]

Ok, So i went into my archives and this is what i found. according to the (3 Bureau Credit Report) report ordered through Experian in 2007, HouseHold (5480) was bought out by HSBC acct changed to (5467) All details remains the same and in good standing. Payment status- Paid or paying as agreed.
I am confused and have no direction, Thank you for your help Trish.

[tweakalot]

Am i a Victim? Sorry i cannot post links yet, but after searching this debt collection agency i found several reports of people in my situation. some were listed on the ripoff report website.

[Trish]

Yep.....these guys look like bottom feeders and are affiliated with NCO from what I can tell.
I googled them and found tons of complaints as well.

This is a letter that someone else used when they received a collection letter on a bogus acct: (thought it might fit your situation)

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Your Letter Dated xx/xx/xxxx

I received a letter from your offices on xx/xx/xx, referencing an account # xxxxxxxxxx held with (OC name), with a balance of $xxxx.xx due. I am not aware that I hold any account(s) with your company or (OC name) nor am I aware that I have any outstanding debts in this amount.

I do not believe I owe any money to you, so I must dispute this alleged debt, as per your letter. Am I to understand that this account that you say is mine is a (creditor/OC name) credit card that was charged off? If so, please tell me the date when the account was charged off, and a breakdown of how the balance you claim I owe was calculated. I will need this information in order to search for records.

Sincerely,

Your name

You can modify it to suit your needs.......but you need to send them some sort of letter demanding proof of the debt. Then when they can't provide any proof, fire off a FOAD letter.

p.s. Be sure to send the letter CMRR and keep ALL of your paperwork on these guys.

[tweakalot]

Thank you very much for your suggestion Trish. Should i send this certified mail or regular also should i sign this letter? thanks in advance.