Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 29, 2006
Rebecca, Never call or speak to any debt collector on the phone. It will never do anything positive for you, and will always make things worse. Even if you have a blocked/private#, they can capture your caller id info when you call any toll free# at a collection agency. They pay for this service. These lowlife are junk debt buyers and buy very old, usually uncollectable debts for pennies or less on the dollar. And usually they have little or no information on the debt to validate it. You were unlucky enough to have the same or similar name as the original debtor, and they are just skip tracing and hoping for a response. All you need to do now is to send a DEBT VALIDATION request. Clearly dispute the debt and demand to see something with your signature on it that created the alleged debt, as well as a full account history and itemization of charges. Also demand proof that they have a legal right to collect the debt, and if they claim to own it demand to see the purchase contract, chain of title, and proof of payment, including amount paid. Send this by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves what you sent. They should go away when you do this.
John
Califon,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, December 29, 2006
Found this: On 6/30/2000, Bell Atlantic (BNTR) and GTE Corporation (GTTC) merged into one company, Verizon Communications. GTE North, Inc. was renamed Verizon North, Inc. Did you ever do business with GTE? Not that info like that would legitimize any of this. Just trying to follow their trail.
John
Califon,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, December 29, 2006
Found this: On 6/30/2000, Bell Atlantic (BNTR) and GTE Corporation (GTTC) merged into one company, Verizon Communications. GTE North, Inc. was renamed Verizon North, Inc. Did you ever do business with GTE? Not that info like that would legitimize any of this. Just trying to follow their trail.
John
Califon,#5Consumer Comment
Fri, December 29, 2006
Found this: On 6/30/2000, Bell Atlantic (BNTR) and GTE Corporation (GTTC) merged into one company, Verizon Communications. GTE North, Inc. was renamed Verizon North, Inc. Did you ever do business with GTE? Not that info like that would legitimize any of this. Just trying to follow their trail.