Received letter from a law firm regarding old college debt turned over to the state

[happymom44130]

Hello,

 

I have a quick (hopefully) question.

 

Today I received a letter from an attorney in Columbus, Ohio (I'm in Cleveland, Ohio) stating that I owe $556 to the State due to some money I supposedly owe to a community college. If the debt is legit, it had to be from 2006 or prior, because I haven't gone to school at this college in a long time. In fact, I finished my degree in 2009 at another school. I used student loans and have never had an issue with obtaining student loans or federal grants (which is normally an issue if you have outstanding payments due to other colleges). 

 

Anyway, I am going to write a denial letter to the attorney because I have no idea what this debt is for and when I called in, they couldn't really tell me either, other than "well, maybe you dropped a class too late." 

 

All of that said, does anyone know if a statute of limitations applies to this type of collection? If this is legit (which I don't think it is anyway), does a regular credit SOL apply to something that's been "turned over" the the state or originated from a college? 

 

The woman on the phone said they'd called me in 2008 but that I refused to pay the debt because I said I didn't know what it was. I haven't heard about it since, but I don't even remember that phone call. TIA. 

[admin]

Hello,

 

I have a quick (hopefully) question.

 

Today I received a letter from an attorney in Columbus, Ohio (I'm in Cleveland, Ohio) stating that I owe $556 to the State due to some money I supposedly owe to a community college. If the debt is legit, it had to be from 2006 or prior, because I haven't gone to school at this college in a long time. In fact, I finished my degree in 2009 at another school. I used student loans and have never had an issue with obtaining student loans or federal grants (which is normally an issue if you have outstanding payments due to other colleges). 

 

Anyway, I am going to write a denial letter to the attorney because I have no idea what this debt is for and when I called in, they couldn't really tell me either, other than "well, maybe you dropped a class too late." 

 

All of that said, does anyone know if a statute of limitations applies to this type of collection? If this is legit (which I don't think it is anyway), does a regular credit SOL apply to something that's been "turned over" the the state or originated from a college? 

 

The woman on the phone said they'd called me in 2008 but that I refused to pay the debt because I said I didn't know what it was. I haven't heard about it since, but I don't even remember that phone call. TIA. 

I don't think the "there is no SOL" situation applies to you.  However, you could be going by the written SOL (since you probably signed paperwork going to school), which I think in Ohio is 10 years.  

 

In any case, does this appear on your credit report?  If it doesn't, I'd write a DV letter to them and wait to see what happens.  

[happymom44130]

I don't think the "there is no SOL" situation applies to you.  However, you could be going by the written SOL (since you probably signed paperwork going to school), which I think in Ohio is 10 years.  

 

In any case, does this appear on your credit report?  If it doesn't, I'd write a DV letter to them and wait to see what happens.  

Nope-- not on my credit report. I'll add that into my denial letter. Thanks!

[willingtocope]

I'm not exactly sure what the Ohio Government is up to.  I know they're hurting for revenue...and i know they've made some connection with lawyers in the state to try to collect on all alleged debts.  I'm not sure if the lawyers are actually representing the state, or if the state sold the debts to the lawyers.

 

Once a year, for the last 9 years, my wife has been receiving letters from various lawyers (on what looks like State of Ohio letterhead) that claim to be collecting back taxes for a company we closed in 2004, but failed to file a "we're outta business" form with the state.  The Ohio Tax department "estimated" taxes (although we had never actually paid any in the co's 15 yr history), and keep trying to collect.  Every year, I send them a letter explaining, and I get a letter back saying "oh,okay, nevermind"...and then the next year its a diffferent lawyer.

[happymom44130]

I'm not exactly sure what the Ohio Government is up to.  I know they're hurting for revenue...and i know they've made some connection with lawyers in the state to try to collect on all alleged debts.  I'm not sure if the lawyers are actually representing the state, or if the state sold the debts to the lawyers.

 

Once a year, for the last 9 years, my wife has been receiving letters from various lawyers (on what looks like State of Ohio letterhead) that claim to be collecting back taxes for a company we closed in 2004, but failed to file a "we're outta business" form with the state.  The Ohio Tax department "estimated" taxes (although we had never actually paid any in the co's 15 yr history), and keep trying to collect.  Every year, I send them a letter explaining, and I get a letter back saying "oh,okay, nevermind"...and then the next year its a diffferent lawyer.

 

I kind of feel like that might be what this: a sort of scam. This is the first I've ever heard of it (don't care what the say). And they can't tell me what this debt is, exactly? Only what it "might" be? Pish posh. 

[BTO429]

If they cannot tell you what the debt is then  I would send them a refusal to pay.

[Torden]

Don't mention about the credit report to them.  Leave sleeping dogs to sleep.  Just send them a "refuse to pay".  You might choose to add "... unless and until you can show me in writing exactly what this debt is for".  This is just basic information that can be included with any placed or sold debt.  Not having it means somewhere between scam and poor handling.

[BTO429]

I have no idea why the State of Ohio would be involved. I would call the State dept of education and see if they are really handling this. If not you need to find out what is going on. Did they law firm send the letter on their letter head or did they use the State of Ohio letter head, if they used the state letterhead and this does not have anything to do with the State of Ohio, I would file a fdcpa suit for all kind of violations.