Old debt - maybe

[AnotherTenant]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

I just received a phone call from someone claiming I owe money from an old phone bill. He did know my old phone number, but he didn't have either my current or former address correct. He also knew the last four digits of my SSN.

Because I don't believe I owe this debt, and because it's over 10 years old, I asked him for some proof that I owe, although exactly what proof he'd ever be able to provide is beyond me. He refused to email it, and I refused to give him my current address since I have absolutely no idea who he is or whether this is some kind of scam or not.

And, thus, we are at a standoff: he wants money, which I'm not willing to give him without proof that I actually owe it, (I'm not even sure I still have my bank records from that long ago, but I'll check when I get home), which he's not willing to provide without knowing my address, which I'm not willing to provide since I don't believe he's legit. (He admitted that he'd given me a fake name, so why on Earth would I trust anything else he has to say?)

So, what's my next step? Curiously enough, this debt does NOT show up on my credit report, which I'd expect it to if it were valid.

TIA for your guidance.

 

[sandyclaus]

Sounds like a collection agency.

Demand the name and address of the agency, and send them a Debt Validation letter according to the following sample Sample Letter 9 - Requesting a Collection Agency to Validate a Debt (in the sample I an referencing, substitute "letter" for "phone contact" and proceed accordingly).

Keep in mind that Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on written contracts, so unless the SOL has been tolled, there is a very good chance that someone is trying to revive an old debt for whcih the SOL has long since run.

Request the debt validation and then move on from there to decide what your next step is.