Complaint / Review
Dell Financial Service
DFS DELL Financial Services Unauthorized ACH payment attempt just before SOL is about to expire

DFS (DELL Financial Services) attempted to make an unauthorized charge to my checking account just before (the last month before) the SOL was to expire on an old debt trying to re-age the account so that they could continue to try and collect on an old debt. This excerpt was taken from http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-state-statute-limitations-1282.php

Re-aging debt Consumers should be aware of a practice called re-aging of old debts. The clock on the statute of limitations may start anew if a consumer makes a payment — even a small amount — on a debt that has exceeded or is approaching the end of the statute of limitations. Acknowledging an old debt may also extend the time limit on potential debt collection lawsuits. Consumer advocates now advise debtors not to acknowledge old debts or debts they don't recognize as their own to avoid inadvertently resetting the clock on the statute of limitations. Any new activity on it could re-age it and make it more collectable.— Lauren Saunders

National Consumer Law Center"Any new activity on it could re-age it and make it more collectable, " says Lauren Saunders, managing attorney for the National Consumer Law Center, a consumer rights group. "You're better off ignoring a call about an ancient debt. It's best to send them a letter saying I don't recognize this or please verify it."

I am not acknowledging that I owe DSF a single penny and don't recognize any account with DELL but, thought that this should be brought to consumer's attention and was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I contacted my bank where the ACH payment was attempted and informed them that I did not authorize this payment and the bank reversed it. I saw on my credit report that DELL has listed the payment attempt as "Consumer disputes saying did not authorize" or something to that effect. I'm wondering what DSF will do next as the SOL should have expired unless this illegal re-aging tactic works. Let me know if you have had or are having a similar experience.