Wmary2k
Syracuse,,#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, August 25, 2008
I have had a similar experience with Palisades Collection, LLC for the past several years... actually, my husband has, but I'm the designated fighter. In the summer of 2005 they sent a letter requesting over $10,000 for an account originally held by First USA bank. My husband had no recollection of such an account and it does not ever show up on his credit reports. We were provided with nothing but an account number. We immediately filed a dispute on the claim with Palisades, and requested documentation of the account balances and transactions. We filed the same request in writing to First USA . First USA did not reply at all. Palisades simply sent us the same letter the following summer under the guise of "Merchants Credit" . We went through the same procedure of filing a dispute, and this time sent a report to the FTC ( it's pretty easy online). I did not hear last year , so I assumed the case had dried up. This summer , however, we received a new letter, with the new pricetag of over $22,000 , again, from Palisades. Attached was copy of the original APPLICATION for the credit card ( a VISA Gold)... with his signature neatly forged ( obviously not his signature for the neatness of it) and his mother's maiden name misspelled! Oh, yes, and a request for a $29,000 balance transfer ... and an additional card for , you guessed it , his ex- wife. ( not his ex at the time ( 1994!!)) Anyway, this is getting scarier, as now I almost believe there may have actually BEEN an account involved... but my reply to them was that all they had shown was a mere application. I again requested specific information on the account, listing such items as opening date, opening balance, all payments, all charges, and final balance when payments stopped coming. I also requested the reason the amount had doubled since the last letter. My guess is I won't hear from them again for a year, but I think it's time to find someone who knows the RULES about spousal forgery ( if there are any ) and the statute of limitations on such things. Wish us luck!