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 Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:25 am Subject: received a copy of statements from a CA |
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I was NEVER billed and was not aware that I was responsible to pay property tax on a car when I lived in CT. I moved very shortly after living there to a new address and set up USPS forwarding. No bills were ever sent to me. Now, almost 15 years later, I received a copy of statements from a CA. What are my rights here? I understand "Fair Debt Collection Practices" etc. but it seems like I have to pay up regardless of their mistakes.
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geaninejamison
Joined: 28 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:18 am Subject: reply |
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what debts are these again?15 years is an
awfully long time.except for certain debts
like student loans that seems like a long time.
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paulmergel
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:55 am Subject: |
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I think the key word here is "tax" which would indicate it is a state tax which means no SOL.
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SOAPLADY
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:58 am Subject: reply |
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okay,i still can't move that bar.question
soaplady,since this is tax debt.can she work
something as far as payments go?
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paulmergel
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:54 am Subject: |
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I believe that since it is a CA attempting to collect, the first thing to do is a DV. (A DV is more than just a request for statements, they must also prove that they have the RIGHT to collect and that they are the ones you should make payment to.) Make them prove to you the debt. Although they sent you statements, are these statements copies from the OC, or printouts from their (CA) computers. So many CA buy old debt and then try to collect thru usurious ways. If they can't validate, don't pay THEM.
In addition, I WOULD however, call the county tax office where you lived to see if they are showing you as having a past due amount. If so, PAY the tax DIRECTLY to the county. If they say that it went to a CA, ask for the name and contact info. Then you know for sure. (Be aware, tho, that once sold to a CA, it can change hands many times between CA.)
I would recommend checking your credit reports to see if there are any past due marks for this item. If the county reported you, then all tax items will report indefinitely until they are paid. If only the CA is listed, DV and if they cannot provide proof of the debt, then dispute with the credit bureau and chances are, it will come off your report.
Another sugguestion, visit Bud Hibbs website and see if the CA is what he refers to as a "bottom feeder." They can be sneaky. This site gives a good understanding on how bad CA can be.
Good Luck!
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desperatelyseekingsanity
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:26 pm Subject: |
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| Quote: | | In addition, I WOULD however, call the county tax office where you lived to see if they are showing you as having a past due amount. If so, PAY the tax DIRECTLY to the county. If they say that it went to a CA, ask for the name and contact info. Then you know for sure. (Be aware, tho, that once sold to a CA, it can change hands many times between CA.) |
Tax debts are not sold to collection agencies. Don't waste your time sending a DV letter when a call to the tax assessor will suffice.
| Quote: | okay,i still can't move that bar.question
soaplady,since this is tax debt.can she work
something as far as payments go? |
Yes; that is the nature of collections. OP might not like what he/she is offered, but any payments made would be applied to the account.
_________________
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.
-John E. Southard
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Morningstar
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 7:30 am Subject: |
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"Tax debts are not sold to collection agencies. Don't waste your time sending a DV letter when a call to the tax assessor will suffice." ???
If the tax debt wasn't sold to the CA, then how did the CA get the debt?
I recently had a tax item of mine go to a CA. I DV'd it, got no response from them and paid it directly to the county.
Times are achangin'!
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desperatelyseekingsanity
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Shazzers
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:55 am Subject: |
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| Quote: | If the tax debt wasn't sold to the CA, then how did the CA get the debt?
I recently had a tax item of mine go to a CA. I DV'd it, got no response from them and paid it directly to the county. |
CAs are contracted to collect debts owed to various governmental agencies...in your case, the CA was probably paid for the collection of your tax debt anyway.
_________________
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.
-John E. Southard
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Morningstar
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:29 am Subject: |
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I would still recommend that a DV letter be sent to the CA, otherwise, how would one know for sure that the CA is authorized to collect for the tax authority. That's the main purpose of using a DV letter - to make sure that the debt is valid!
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desperatelyseekingsanity
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:09 am Subject: |
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Well collection agencies are now helping the IRS to collect on debts so it's feasable that they would also be collecting on state debts as well.
Unfortunately not knowing the law isn't a defense that is going to help you.
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FYI
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