My husband had an old phone bill from SBC Ameritech from appr. 5 yrs ago. We paid it back in Nov. 2005. As a lot of companies do, when we called to pay the debt, they settled for a lower total since we were paying the balance in full. It was shown paid and removed from his credit. We know this for positive because this was one of the things we were doing in order to buy a new house (pay off a 3 old debts) and had to show proof of being paid to the mortgage company.
This week Midland had started to call our house. They ask to speak with my husband, but when I had said he was not home they asked if I was his wife. I said yes (not knowing who they were yet) and the gentlemen continued to tell me the company he was calling from and what it was about. He disclosed the debt amount, as well as who it was from. Of course the amount he gave to me was the difference between what we had origanally owed SBC Ameritech and what we settled for back in November.
I told him this debt had been settled already and he would need to call back and speak to my husband. After at least 1 call every night this week (if not 2) I finally mentioned not-so-politely that we will not be paying them any money since this debt had already been paid. On top of that, back in June or July (when this company first appeared on my husbands credit report) we disputed it through Experian and received a letter back stating they investigated our dispute, found no verification of owing a debt, and deleted it from his credit.
My husband finally told them (after searching on the internet) that they are in violation of law (FDCPA section 804 & 805) by discussing the details of this debt with me instead of him. Also we have proof of this debt being removed when settled AND their claim being deleted from his credit once already.
I advise everyone to keep a close eye on your credit report as often as you can. We had just been checking it every so often and Midland Credit Management just showed up one day. We had never heard from them, received any letters, or anything! We didn't even know what the amount being claimed was even for at that point. It is ridiculous that companies can do this sort of thing!
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