Letter from a Collection Agency About A Debt I've Never Had!

[Yavin4]

I got a letter from a collection agency about a credit card with Providian that I never had. I've sent them a letter disputing the claim. I asked for any and all documentation about the claim. However, I did not specifically demand to know the original creditor. It's still within the 30-day period, and I'm going to send them a second letter reiterating my dispute and specifically demanding the name of the original creditor.


What does everyone else think?

[LeftyMom]

1. I think you should get a credit repost ASAP

and make sure you don't have any other debts in your name you don't know about. It could be a mistake, but maybe somebody took out a card in your name.

[Yavin4]

2. I Did. There's Nothing Else

This is the only black mark on my report.

[LeftyMom]

3. Well that's a relief

Make sure to send your letter certified mail so you can prove you sent it and file a dispute with the credit reposting agency if the providian debt shows up.

[Yavin4]

4. Done and Done

Did all of that.

[rustydog]

9. Identity theft

[nutsnberries]

5. identity theft (nt)

[serryjw]

6. Do you have a common name?

I would put a warning on my credit report so NO ONE can open another cc in your name

[pitohui]

7. this happens all the time

a surprising number of ppl pay it

collection agencies will send these letters to anyone w. remotely similar name to the debtor, in hope someone anyone will pay,they are paid on commission and they don't really care if their payments are based on fraud, they know they won't be prosecuted because they have deniability and can back down when their mistake is pointed out to them by the authorities

i would not send a second letter or any further communication to the collection agency, i would instead inform my state attorney general that i'm being billed for money i don't owe

you'll end up doing the same in the end after a lot of wasted stamps, time, and phone calls, these ppl understand nothing except the threat of arrest

i used to have a hobby of helping ppl who got these bills but i've pretty much given up, since you can't help the helpless, and most ppl are too lazy to write an actual letter of complaint, so you're already a step ahead in that you're proactive, you just don't have experience w. the issue

[Yavin4]

8. Thanks. One Question Though.

I didn't specifically ask for the name of the original creditor. I asked for any and all documentation. Is that good enough? Or, should I be more specific?

[lakemonster11]

14. I agree with letting your attorney general know.

Last year I was having a disagreement with Comcast. They ignored me until I got the attorney general on the case. Then they apologized and offered me a $200 credit. It wasn't as much as I deserved, but I was glad to get it.

[WCGreen]

10. I had the same thing happen to me....

It was wierd, my name with a SS# that was really close...

[BamaGirl]

11. We get this too

My husband and his dad have the same name, so we get bills for his dad every now then. My experience has been if you bitch enough, they will fix it.

[driver8]

12. Get a credit report immediately!! I had my identity stolen and the

way I found out about it was when I got a call from a collection agency telling me I owed Dell Computers $4,000.00.

The idiot that used my information had been making payments for a year and then I guess he realized that he didn't have to. That was when they contacted me. The guy had a fake CA Driver's license made with my name on it, and the idiot used his real address on the license.

When I filed the police report, the cop saw the address on the license and checked out who lived there. They guy who lived at the address had 2 warrants out for his arrest already.

I have no idea what ever happened.

[driver8]

13. Whoops -- I see that you already did that! Good for you! n/t