TrueLogic wrote to me...

[mpmusicny]

Hi everybody,

First of all, thanks so much for the wealth of information on this site. i've spent a day looking through various posts, but still think I could benefit from some personal advice on my situation, so here goes. i got a letter from TrueLogic Financial, whom i know you all know about. They are demanding payment for a debt of $73.96, the original creditor being MCI communications and the debt holder being LVNV Funding LLC. The last time I had an account with MCI was 15 years ago, and I'm not aware of any outstanding balance with them, and that any debt I may have had with MCI is way past the statute of limitations. I am reasonably certain that this is not my debt anyway, although they have my current name and address correct on the letter, as I'm aware they often attempt to match up names with addresses and just hope for the best. I have already prepared a debt validation letter, which was based on a template from another site. The information requested is:

. What the money you say I owe is for;

. Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;

. Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;

. Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;

. Identify the original creditor;

. Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account

. Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state

Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

I had intended to send this off tomorrow to the (non PO box) mailing address i found on the TrueLogic website - Fedex, as I've heard that these people are these days often refusing to accept CD/RRR USPS mail. I would then follow the flow chart on this site until the matter is hopefully resolved.

My questions :

1) I know that elsewhere on your site you recommend staying away from the form letters to be found around the web, saying the the collection agencies are on to them. Does the list of validation demands listed above seem about right, or is it excessive? even if the CA's are "on to them", how does that affect their legal requirement to respond? i mean, I assumed from the get-go that they will recognize that the letter is based on a template that they recognize and probably receive a 100 times a week, but how does that fact in and of itself change the form letter's effectiveness?

2) The debt amount is, to me, insignificant, and i am in the process of applying for my first house loan. The last thing i want is my credit score lowered right now. I know that philosophically you would be opposed to this, as am I, but a small part of me is toying with the idea of checking to see if this has shown up on my credit reports and, if not, sending them an official check for the money just to clear it. I'm just being honest here, i hate to do it, but a part of me thinks that for such a small sum, with a mortgage pre-approval pending, it's the safest thing to do. I've also read that these are vidictive b*****s, and that upon receiving a DV letter, they first thing they do is hit your credit reports. Tell me I'm wrong

3) Another corner of my brain thinks the opposite - ignore it. The logic goes like this - they sent a letter - they haven't been harassing me with phone calls like they do with most of their "clients", so they probably don't even have my phone number. They may not have any other info about me at all, and this is just phishing-by-mail. They probably don't have my SS number, and this will be the last time i hear about it, till the next time they bug me.

How would you suggest i proceed? I have 3 weeks left before the month is up on their first demand.

many thanks,

MP

p.s I live in NYC, but previously was in CA.

p.p.s. I guess MCI and Verizon are now one and the same. is there any possibility that this refers to a Verizon bill? i'm thinking not, since these guys seem to deal in very old debts...

[CarolinaBlueEyes]

you can ignore it but I would t waste 20 bucks on a fed ex.. send it CMRR... also if you are sure its out of SOL then send them a C&D instead.. keep the letters simple.. and short.. they get the point..

[mpmusicny]

Thanks for the advice, CBE. That makes sense, and also, a rejected, unopened, correctly addressed CM/RRR would be good evidence if i ever need to go to court, yes?

MP

[someonesomewhere]

If they are dumb enough NOT to sign for CMRRR, and some are, then yes save the returned letter. Don't open it yourself. Just stick it in your file cabinet in a folder for that TL.

[CarolinaBlueEyes]

Thanks for the advice, CBE. That makes sense, and also, a rejected, unopened, correctly addressed CM/RRR would be good evidence if i ever need to go to court, yes?

MP

I would think so

[hiblues]

you could send it UPS 3day or ground, it's only like $6 I think

[CarolinaBlueEyes]

I dont think a signature is required for ground.... and the overnight is about 18.00 or so...for a signature... trust me its not worth the money.. just send it CMRR.. they dont all turn them down and if they do.. well you have proof it was sent

[nascar]

I would hate to even waste a stamp on True Logic. They're like those fish that suck poop off the walls of your fish tank. Just C&D these idiots.

[Recovering Attorney]

Send it priority mail or simply certified. You want to show it was mailed and it was received, whichis what either of those will do without the green card hassle.

[MadinKS]

I would hate to even waste a stamp on True Logic. They're like those fish that suck poop off the walls of your fish tank. Just C&D these idiots.

Do these fools cave pretty easy? I just DV'd them for 2 of my wife's out of SOL accounts. Hoping they FOAD and delete. Any intel on them?

[mpmusicny]

Thanks for all the advice. I assume, then, that nobody is particularly impressed with ideas 2) and 3) ?

MP

[someonesomewhere]

I assume, then, that nobody is particularly impressed with ideas 2) and 3) ?

2) Paying them - Short term, they might stop writing and calling, but long term you're probably going to have a paid collection on your CRs. I speak from experience having one, as do many others with them, you want to avoid this. It solves NOTHING to pay them to make them go away. It might be only $70 some odd dollars, but your credit will likely not improve by paying them.

3) Ignore them - They probably won't just go away. You can't just bluff them. You have to show them you're willing to hit them with a stick.

[CarolinaBlueEyes]

oh trust me they will go away,... and in a few more months another JDB will have it and send out the same mail.. either way... a C&D is fine or ignore it...

[someonesomewhere]

Pronoun trouble. By they I meant CAs and JDBs in general, not this specific one.

[stancil1]

They refused my first DV so on my second one, I wrote on the front "paid in full" and they accepted. I guess they thought there was money in it, anyway it worked for me.

[someonesomewhere]

They refused my first DV so on my second one, I wrote on the front "paid in full" and they accepted. I guess they thought there was money in it, anyway it worked for me.

Thank you. I'm glad someone tried this and confirmed it worked. I was thinking, if I ever had to do it, I'd put "Payment Information", "Payment Department", "Settlement Enclosed" or something similar. Cheaper than Fedex.