What is the name of your state? NJ
On 1/16/06, after recently moving from NJ to NY, I rec'ed a letter from a CA advising that an alleged account of mine with a NJ utilities provider was in collection, and advised that the amount in question was $728.19. The letter went on to instruct that I had 30 days in order to dispute the information.
Now, I knew that before I left NJ I had paid all bills, including the utilites bill, and never would I have accumulated a bill for this amount so I had no idea what this was about and honestly thought it was some kind of scam. So, I called this NJ utilities company customer service and s/w a rep there. She asked me a few questions, including my SS# and low and behold an outstanding account comes up, but for an address that was not mine. The rep told me that she felt that this may possibly be a matter of ID theft, and advised that I send a letter to their corporate headquaters, and to include any pieces of mail that were sent to me to the address where I actually lived. So, I did this, included copies of their bills and some other items and sent everything cert mail and also sent a copy of this same letter to the CA, also certified (all within the 30 day time period).
After about 6-7 weeks of not hearing anything more about this matter, I decided to pull my credit report and there it was, listed as a Negitive account, not listed as disputed or under investigation or anything. A complete violation of my consumer rights under the FDCPA, validation of debts. So now I'm pissed. I begin writing letters to everyone. I started with the Attorney General of NY who happened to be Elliott Spitzer at the time (great consumer advocate, so/so Gov.) a letter was sent to BBB, I also sent a letter to a local TV station's consumer advocate (never heard anything from them). In any case, after many attempts, I finally get a supervisor from the NJ utilities provider to call me back, at which they instructed that they would list the account as a fraudulent account, and they even went as far as placing an ID fraud alert with all 3 reporting agencies. Spitzers group got on the CA's case and soon I get a letter from the CA as well as the Attorney General's office that this account was closed with the CA and will remain closed. The account was also deleted from all three credit reporting agents.
Now...Fast forward...
I'm pulling my reports 10/3/07 (I always get my free reports once a year to make sure all is good) and what do I see but this account showing up AGAIN as a negitive account, same original creditor, same amount (minus the .19 cents) listed as date opened 4/07, but with a different CA. I can not believe this, but when you're dealing with scum sucking pieces of crap like these agencies I guess one should only expect this. Now, I have these questions:
1 - I disputed the debt (again!) on the report, but I know that it's only going to come back as valid even thought we all know they don't actually validate these things. Should I begin sending the credit reporting agencies copies of all of the letters that I sent and rec'ed from the 1st CA complaint, or should I wait?
2-Should I open this up again with the Attornery General of NY even though the problem is now with a different CA, and I now reside in NJ again. Maybe referencing the original complaint?
3- What do you suggest I do in order to get this taken care of without having to jump through hoops of fire and having to go though the same mess as the 1st situation.
Any and all suggestions in response to my dilemia are appreciated.
Thank you.
On 1/16/06, after recently moving from NJ to NY, I rec'ed a letter from a CA advising that an alleged account of mine with a NJ utilities provider was in collection, and advised that the amount in question was $728.19. The letter went on to instruct that I had 30 days in order to dispute the information.
Now, I knew that before I left NJ I had paid all bills, including the utilites bill, and never would I have accumulated a bill for this amount so I had no idea what this was about and honestly thought it was some kind of scam. So, I called this NJ utilities company customer service and s/w a rep there. She asked me a few questions, including my SS# and low and behold an outstanding account comes up, but for an address that was not mine. The rep told me that she felt that this may possibly be a matter of ID theft, and advised that I send a letter to their corporate headquaters, and to include any pieces of mail that were sent to me to the address where I actually lived. So, I did this, included copies of their bills and some other items and sent everything cert mail and also sent a copy of this same letter to the CA, also certified (all within the 30 day time period).
After about 6-7 weeks of not hearing anything more about this matter, I decided to pull my credit report and there it was, listed as a Negitive account, not listed as disputed or under investigation or anything. A complete violation of my consumer rights under the FDCPA, validation of debts. So now I'm pissed. I begin writing letters to everyone. I started with the Attorney General of NY who happened to be Elliott Spitzer at the time (great consumer advocate, so/so Gov.) a letter was sent to BBB, I also sent a letter to a local TV station's consumer advocate (never heard anything from them). In any case, after many attempts, I finally get a supervisor from the NJ utilities provider to call me back, at which they instructed that they would list the account as a fraudulent account, and they even went as far as placing an ID fraud alert with all 3 reporting agencies. Spitzers group got on the CA's case and soon I get a letter from the CA as well as the Attorney General's office that this account was closed with the CA and will remain closed. The account was also deleted from all three credit reporting agents.
Now...Fast forward...
I'm pulling my reports 10/3/07 (I always get my free reports once a year to make sure all is good) and what do I see but this account showing up AGAIN as a negitive account, same original creditor, same amount (minus the .19 cents) listed as date opened 4/07, but with a different CA. I can not believe this, but when you're dealing with scum sucking pieces of crap like these agencies I guess one should only expect this. Now, I have these questions:
1 - I disputed the debt (again!) on the report, but I know that it's only going to come back as valid even thought we all know they don't actually validate these things. Should I begin sending the credit reporting agencies copies of all of the letters that I sent and rec'ed from the 1st CA complaint, or should I wait?
2-Should I open this up again with the Attornery General of NY even though the problem is now with a different CA, and I now reside in NJ again. Maybe referencing the original complaint?
3- What do you suggest I do in order to get this taken care of without having to jump through hoops of fire and having to go though the same mess as the 1st situation.
Any and all suggestions in response to my dilemia are appreciated.
Thank you.