Bogus debt collection/collectors???
hey folks, serious question here...
last week, we got a cryptic, almost unintelligible phone call from someone, to call back a 1-800 number. since we couldn't make out the name, we didn't call back (easy scam to see if your phone number is working for telemarketing).
today, we get a letter, and realize that the person was sayign they were fromt he "zenith acquisition corporation," and that they have bought a debt we are supposed to repay of $150 and change, a debt from "american power corporation".
now this just REEKS of scam to me. first of all, until last summer, my wife and i have not been in the country for the past five years. we have not run any debt since we have been back for more than a few months, and all have been paid back in full. before we left, we had all of our debts zeroed out. if this was a utility company, they were either a huge holding company we had never heard of or came into contact with, or they just have the wrong folks. and of course, on their notice, they say, " do not contact the original company for payment of this debt, as they are no longer servicing this account."
they just sent a "please return this with your payment" sheet. they have a toll-free number to call, and when you call, the automated message says "the mailbox you are attempting to call is full."
i mean, is it just me, or does this sound like a company that sends out these notices, hoping that more people will be afraid of hurting their credit and just send in the payment? is there anyone we can call, in addition to the company contacting us, to verify the accuracy of their statement?
i just find all of this WAY suspicious, considering how utterly squeaky-damn-clean our credit record has been...
last week, we got a cryptic, almost unintelligible phone call from someone, to call back a 1-800 number. since we couldn't make out the name, we didn't call back (easy scam to see if your phone number is working for telemarketing).
today, we get a letter, and realize that the person was sayign they were fromt he "zenith acquisition corporation," and that they have bought a debt we are supposed to repay of $150 and change, a debt from "american power corporation".
now this just REEKS of scam to me. first of all, until last summer, my wife and i have not been in the country for the past five years. we have not run any debt since we have been back for more than a few months, and all have been paid back in full. before we left, we had all of our debts zeroed out. if this was a utility company, they were either a huge holding company we had never heard of or came into contact with, or they just have the wrong folks. and of course, on their notice, they say, " do not contact the original company for payment of this debt, as they are no longer servicing this account."
they just sent a "please return this with your payment" sheet. they have a toll-free number to call, and when you call, the automated message says "the mailbox you are attempting to call is full."
i mean, is it just me, or does this sound like a company that sends out these notices, hoping that more people will be afraid of hurting their credit and just send in the payment? is there anyone we can call, in addition to the company contacting us, to verify the accuracy of their statement?
i just find all of this WAY suspicious, considering how utterly squeaky-damn-clean our credit record has been...
Comments
However, they were a part of this rogue's gallery:
http://www.tmconferences.com/confere...ticipants.html
Originally posted by rok
they have bought a debt we are supposed to repay of $150 and change, a debt from "american power corporation".
quick correction: it was actually "american electric power," which was a power company in the last place we lived before we left the states for those five years. but we are certain that, not only did we clear our debt with all utilities before leaving the states, but also the power company in toronto had to contact our last utility company to make sure we were in good standing to give us a discount on setting up utilities.
we are currently investigating our options. seems the first recommnded thing to do is to dispute the debt (if we are sure we don't owe the money) IN WRITING and send the letter with SIGNATURE RECEIPT so that, if need be, we can prove we disputed the claim in writing within 30 days. otherwise, the collectors have legal right to come after you, regardless of whether you are right or wrong (in a case such as this, silence by the "debtor" is an admission of debt).
keep you posted... meanwhile, any other advice is welcomed.