Northland Group - Asset Acceptance trying to collect paid off credit card debt Edna Minnesota
I received a suspcious collections letter from NGI in the mail this week. It was addressed to me under a former married name that I haven't used in over 18 years! I did not live at this address 18 years ago, either. The store account credit card they say is past due in the amount of $892.07 was charged off in a bankruptcy in 1990! That's almost TWO DECADES AGO!! When I looked up the company listed as their "client", Asset Acceptance, Llc, I found that they are a major purchaser of charged off debts and then they go and try to collect them for themselves. It can be very deceiving, and as one consumer who filed a ripoff report here says, it can cause you to second-guess yourself.
The letter lists the actual credit card account number and company it was held with, thereby making the letter look legitimate. Is this even legal?? Why are companies allowed to "purchase" this kind of information? Can they be stopped?!?! Personally, I know I will seek all possible remedies to stop them from harrassing me.
Cheryl
Birmingham, Alabama
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, March 13, 2009
This debt is WAY outside the statute of limitations for all 50 states...it is also past the allowable 7-year reporting cycle on credit reports....so they can't place this on your credit file . This is ancient, time-barred debt....because of this, the collection agency is powerless over you....other than trying to scare/annoy you into paying.
Technically, a debt collector can come after you forever for defaulted debt...however, once the statute of limitations is up...they've lost the power to successfully take legal action. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you can send them a "cease communications" letter and that will be all that you need to do. Per this law they must cease collection activity.
Send the collection agency a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt stating:
Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, cease all communications with me about this alleged debt.
* DO NOT sign your signature on any document that you mail to a debt collector. It could end up on a forged document that can be used against you. Simply type your full name.
=========================
If the debt collector calls back, tell them that you have officially sent a certified letter to them to cease communications with you per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Don't let them scare/bully you into paying this ancient, time-barred debt with bogus threats of arrest or legal action...they can't do either...they are powerless over you.
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, March 13, 2009
This debt is WAY outside the statute of limitations for all 50 states...it is also past the allowable 7-year reporting cycle on credit reports....so they can't place this on your credit file . This is ancient, time-barred debt....because of this, the collection agency is powerless over you....other than trying to scare/annoy you into paying.
Technically, a debt collector can come after you forever for defaulted debt...however, once the statute of limitations is up...they've lost the power to successfully take legal action. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you can send them a "cease communications" letter and that will be all that you need to do. Per this law they must cease collection activity.
Send the collection agency a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt stating:
Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, cease all communications with me about this alleged debt.
* DO NOT sign your signature on any document that you mail to a debt collector. It could end up on a forged document that can be used against you. Simply type your full name.
=========================
If the debt collector calls back, tell them that you have officially sent a certified letter to them to cease communications with you per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Don't let them scare/bully you into paying this ancient, time-barred debt with bogus threats of arrest or legal action...they can't do either...they are powerless over you.