Faith Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 I got a letter from Harris and Harris telling me I owe almost $1000 for what was formerly a $500 Cellular One bill. Cell One sold to Cingular. Apparently Harris and Harris is trying to collect these old debts. They said the debt increased due to "interest" etc. I said to send me something in writing, like an original contract showing I agreed to pay interest. I got nothing. Meanwhile, I disputed with TU and they DELETED IT!!! But, I still get calls from Harris and Harris. Should I do a debt validation letter? Does the fact that TU deleted mean they probably couldn't come up with validation? The SOL should be up this time next year. Since it is deleted, but I don't want to get sued, what should I do next? Thanks, Faith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 P.S. I have looked up the SOL here in Illinois and it is 6 years regardless of the type of debt. Now, like I said, this was an old phone bill. The original creditor has sold to a newer phone company. When I politely asked the CA to provide me with the "final bill" and also the contract I signed saying I agreed to pay "interest" they never sent me anything. My concern about the SOL is if it applies to the last time I paid my Cellular One bill (early 1998) or the date this debt was placed with the collection agency. This item has already been deleted from my report, but I am worried about being sued. These people call my house every day several times a day. But I don't want to do a cease and desist or a debt validation letter if it invites a suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb9tbq Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Well the DV letter is to protect your rights / and concerning the CD Letter (only send partial) telling them that you want all correspondence to be done in writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Thank you...I am really jealous of your scores, by the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Posted May 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2003 OK, I got another letter from them today and they mention that "their client has authorized them to send this account to an attorney." So, at least I know that Harris and Harris is a CA, not an attorney. Here's the glitch. If I do a debt validation letter and they DO validate, I believe my account will show I haven't paid a Cellular One phone bill since late 1997. If that's the case, then the SOL will be up soon. I feel like I am screwed either way. This item has been deleted from my credit report. However, if they sue me and get a judgement, it will reappear. If they don't sue me, but validate the debt, it will probably reappear. How do I go about getting the date of the actual last activity on my Cellular One account. Problem is, Cell One sold out to Cingular One. How do I determine the date of last activity. If I understand correctly, it is not the date that the account was placed with the CA but in fact the last payment that was made? Help??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anonymous Posted May 25, 2003 Report Share Posted May 25, 2003 dola is the date you paid, so what does it say on your report? EX is great at listing that type of thing... you need to prove that the SOL is up, so yes you have to find that stuff out somehow and it won't be easy. also the time frame is like 30 days until you receive a summons then 30 to respond then 60 to courtdate... so you have a few months to respond. i would kindly explain that you would like to settle this if you can be sure it is yours and that you agreed to the interest (that is if you are scared of being sued) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Posted May 26, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Thanks for your thoughtful replies to this unbelievably annoying situation...if I get you right, are you suggesting that if I am afraid of being sued, I should genuinely offer to settle with them? Or is this a stall tactic? The last time I paid a phone bill was in December 1997. Worst case scenario I would be willing to pay them what I genuinely owe, the original amount. I will let hell freeze before I pay them the $900 +. They waited five years to find me with this new "amount owed." Also, since it is off my report, I hesitate to cut any deals with them if they will just turn around and report it as a paid collection. Ya know? What could they give me in writing that would serve as an official agreement to not report any further to the CRA's, should I decide to hand these idiots their money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted June 3, 2003 Report Share Posted June 3, 2003 I am in the same boat on this one...I would like to hear what can be done for this. If the creditor sits on the debt for three years with no attempt to contact or bill, why should I pay all the late fees and interest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith Posted June 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2003 Well, my credit report does not show the date of last activity, because I know that this debt is actually a final bill I got from Cell One, and it was back in December of 1997. If the date of last activity is actually the date of the last payment I made to Cell One, then the SOL is almost up, if it is six years, and it is ALREADY up, if it is five years. I have had two different responses to the SOL here in Illinois. My credit report lists this as an Open Account, and according to the two sources I looked at, the SOL is either five or six years. Any info on the current SOL would be appreciated. Also, do I assume the DOLA is actually the last phone bill I paid? I haven't sent that debt validation letter yet. Any advice would be nice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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