Harassing calls from a debt collector? Here is what you need to know

} never actually owed that bill.  Although I requested that they return the money I had paid them, they never repaid me.

A risible request .... That's like asking the coyote to kindly drop that chicken in its jaws. You'd need to have sued to recover those funds, provided that the agency did something to mislead you into paying. Else you'd have to show that the debt claim was wildly wrong from the start, a/k/a lacking "reasonable basis" for collection.

} not allowed to pay the collector--I had to pay them.

I think you'd meant that paying the creditor was forbidden. Right away "beltfed", first to reply to Chris, pointed out one of the problems with the "pay the OC" fallacy, one of account ownership. In your case it was again a question of reasonable basis. In any case of assigned debt it's difficult to end-run the collector, which typically has clients locked under a "no direct pay" agreement. The lesson of your experience is to question everything, and never assume that the creditor has clean hands or accurate records.

} There is no reason why you need to ever talk to debt collectors.

I can think of a few thousand reasons, mainly the dollars I've earned in FDCPA settlements based on violations from collector phone calls. Once again, the thread title does not ask if we know what a call blocker does or which ones are hot this year. You are in no position to tell me what to do with my ringing phones unless you want to send me a fat annual subsidy check.

Incorrect, an account can and wiill be credit reported as "disputed". IF the dispute is found to be factual after investigatiion it will be removed from the credit report and the consumer will be notified it has been removed. Also the FTC does not handle phone communications. We also record all our calls so baiters can't pull fast ones and collectors stay civil.

Did you file a police report? Because that's required so an investiigatiion can be conducted. It's also helpful to call back that collector with the poliice report number so the account be tagged as possible fraud. So in the even it ever got credit reported, it would show disputed as fraudulent.

All well and good if the consumer says they're recording the call. HOWEVER if they do it without telling the collector and they later try toi use it in a court. It would be thrown out of court.

Incorreect, verbal consent is also accepted from the consumer.

6 years, 7 years is credit reporting

Send that letter and the collection agency CAN contact you one last time to tell you they're ceasing communications. But not collections practices in as much you can still be sued if you are working or own your home. And the creditor(s) allow it.

People in Chicago are rude period.

You see the problem with your reaction to his call right? He gave you the address they have on file and you didn't confirm it. Why would he send another one if you refiuse to verify your address? Thiink on that.

Talk to your ex.

It's none of your business.

It's past the statue of limitations by 3 years. However if you make a payment, you will reset the statute another 6 years (or what ever it is in your location). You just cannot be sued.

They can still collect the debt for the life of the creditor. However they can't be rude about it or demanding. Also 15 years is a waste of both yours and the collectors time, they need to just let it go. Also remember this, if you were married at the time of any medical service your ex had, by Hawaii law you are also responsible. Lastly if you tell them you're not paying this bill and you remind them how old it is, they should just stop trying to collect it. It's common sense. Then go beat up your ex, take your relatives to hold him down, cousins, uncles, aunties, sisters.

Unless you are listed as a co-signer of some type or the executor of her estate, you are NOT responsiible for her debts. Though I am loathed to say this, seek an attorney.