I am glad that others have written in, too. My daughter just went through the same thing. Like most of the Commentors, her letter is dated January 16, 2007. This bill would have originated in 1994, Afni tells us, and my daughter is only 21 now!! That means that she would have been between 8 and 10 years old! Yes, we DID have an MCI phone back then, but I didn't put the phone in her name. We don't know HOW they got her information! Also, I think I remember paying the phone off, but, again, that was sooooo long ago!
What scared us was that, once we finally got Afni on the phone (they put you on hold forever, and, sometimes you only get a busy signal for hours on end), they told us that they had information on EVERYONE in our household at that time, including Social Security numbers! This was weird to me because I don't think you have to give the Social Security number of EVERYONE in the household. Plus, to be honest, I cannot say for sure if the number they are referring to was really our number, as we have literally moved across the country since that time (i.e., "I've slept since then....many, many times :-).
We, too, wrote them a letter telling them that, per our attorney (i.e., ME), my daughter would not be paying them and for them to cease the collections process. I also called today and, after a 20 minute wait, got to speak to a rather RUDE Customer Service rep. We mentioned the words ATTORNEY and CLASS ACTION suit and, voila, we were told that this "COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE PUT ON THE CREDIT REPORT" because the statute of limitations had run out. My daughter had never been told this before when she talked to them, nor does the tone of the letter suggest such. Instead, they told us, "This is just an attempt to collect a debt and information would be used for that purpose". But, they, reiterated, this would NOT go on her credit report. But, this was ONLY after I mentioned an attorney to them. They also told her to file fraud charges so that THEY could help her go after the person who made this bill. She said that she did not make the bill and did not care if they got any money or not, if there is, in fact, a bill.
They had also sheepishly asked her if she would be willing to pay $90 instead of the $165 they are asking her to pay. She told them no.
Two words: CLASS ACTION. Any takers? |
527 days ago by Bowling Man In Pa [
524 days ago by Tim Johnson [