Merchant Credit Guide
Sent notice for debt from 98 way past SOL Florida, I failed to dispute Within 30 Days ripoff

I've recieved a notice from Merchants Credit GuideCo. Stating that I owe them $1786.93. The original creditor is BALLYS. I did have a Bally's fitness membership in 1997-98 (I can't remember exactly) in Pinellas County Florida when I was a college student. But I thought they canceled my membership due to moving to overseas after I graduation in May 1998, so I provided the copy of the plane ticket and my passport to cancel my membership as Bally's instructed me to do so. And I assumed it was canceled since I never heard from them ever again.

All these years nobody contacted me about this matter. I do not owe any debt except for my condo mortgage and I do have excellent credit history and score (840-870). By the way, being an international student back then, I did not have my SSN# yet.

I'm very much concerned about few things:
-Due to nature of my business I travel a lot and I got the notice of MCGC very late, the letter dated 8/15/06 and received it from my mailbox on 9/16/06. Of course got shocked and started the research and found this web site. I immediately wrote a dispute letter and ask for validation and will mail it tomorrow first thing in the morning. But I'm concerned about the validation process since I beileve they will consider my response late (the notice states within 30 days) and may never respond me with validation. The letter was dated 8/15/06 so I don't know what is the effective date of receipt by law? I am not sure how my dispute letter be effective for validation request.

-Even if Bally's didn't cancel my membership and kept charging my account I never made payments since may 98 so if there is any, the debt is from 1998 and way past SOL Florida. But can they still report to any credit agencies? I checked my credit with all 3 agencies and as of today and none shows any inquiry or any negative info from MCGC. Can I do anything further to protect my credit?

-As I said I didn't have a SSN# at the time of membership with Ballys, Can the collection agency find this info without validating this debt or any other way?

-I'm not sure what to do after sending the dispute letter. What if they never respond to validate?

Please help with some info to help me deal with these people.

Thanks

Company: Merchant Credit Guide
Country: USA
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Address: 223 W. Jackson Blvd
Phone: 8882494134

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