Merchants Credit Guide - Ken Hughes Demanding payment on an account that was paid off 13 years ago. ripoff Chicago Illinois
I have received 3 voice messages demanding that I call Ken Hughes at 888-249-1037 stating that it is not a soliciting call.
Did not state who he was with, so I disregarded first two messages. When I received the 3rd message I returned the call asking for Ken Hughes.
I was told he wasn't in and the representative proceeded to tell me that I owed $444.56 that was paid off 13 years ago.
I gave her that information and asked where she got her information. She stated that it was transferred by another collection agency.
She told me that I had to gather the information regarding payoff of the account and provide it to them or the balance would be pursued.
I told her it would take a while to dig up the records and I would return her call.
Less than 2 weeks of that conversation, I received a letter demanding payment and that if they didn't hear from me in 30 days disputing these charges that their officed will assume the debt to be valid.
That's when I searched the internet to access their website.
I tried to pull up their website several times and the response I kept receiving was my connection timed out.
In my search on the internet I noticed your site and thank God, I was able to find out about their fraudulent practices.
Now I have some information to fight back with now.
Sharon
Round Rock, Texas
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Dave
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Don, you are definately naive lol
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, July 25, 2006
Yes, they DO buy debts that have been paid, or do not exist at all. They buy thousands of 'debts' at a time for pennies on the dollar, and then send out mass mailings. They are playing the odds. If they get 1/2 of 1 percent to pay up, they have made a profit.
She DOES NOT have to prove anything. A 13 year old debt is NOT a valid debt, no matter if it was paid or not. The statute of limitations were up years ago, and therefore the debt is uncollectable anyway.
The letter is the way to go. Just tell them not to contact you anymore regarding this debt.
Don
Belleville,Illinois,
U.S.A.
disputing the debt
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, July 25, 2006
Disputing the debt is definately a good way to start. They legally must validate the debt. To contradict Jace's statements though, providing MCG provides validation of the debt, it would be up to the debtor to prove that the account was paid off previously. Maybe I am being naive, but most collection agencies do not buy debts that have been paid off. It is a bad business decision becuase any work they do on the account is for nothing. Whether they only paid 1/10 cents on the dollar for it does not matter either. Once a letter is sent, or a phone call is made, they have lost money on the deal.
My suggestion is simply that if you paid this off Sharon in the past, and have the letter, send a copy of it with the dispute letter.
Jace
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Sharon, do the following
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 24, 2006
"She told me that I had to gather the information regarding payoff of the account and provide it to them or the balance would be pursued."
This in itself is probably a violation of the FDCPA, since they provided no proof that they own the debt or that the debt even exists. Sharon, the burden of proof is on them. You don't have to prove anything. Don't send them anything that shows the debt is paid.
Do send MCG a letter requesting validation of debt. DON'T SIGN IT. Also send a letter to your state Attorney General and the FTC. If they keep bothering you without providing debt validation, send them a cease communications letter (forms here at the site). I doubt you'll hear from them again.
MCG is notorious for trying to collect debts that don't exist or are past the SOL. Don't let them intimidate you.