He is an idiot and I would sure like to meet him in a court room. The statue of limitations on collecting a debt varies from state to state...but, in most states its 5 years on a written contract. It does not matter who owns the debt or who purchased it. The law is the law. also, by law they can not call you more than once a day and if they leave a message on your answering machine it must state what they are calling you for.

Pinnacle Credit Services currently has 6 cases pending in Federal Court for violations of both the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and The Fair Credit Reporting Act. Nelson and Watson are co-defendants in 3 of those cases.

Also, note that a case in The Southern District of Florida found that ALL letters that say you must respond in writing within 30 days is illegal. This is case law and has not been overturned in any court.

Case: Carlos Baez vs Wagner and Hunt,P.A.
Case#:06-60647-CIV-COHN/TORRES

I just got a letter from them about a debt that was paid off in a chapter 13 over 15 years ago and now it's rearing it's head again. What can I do to get them off my back and not on my credit for something that is already paid that they purchsed from someone that knew the debt was paid before they purchased it? I have read the other accounts and I'm not about to put up with creditor harrassment. I have just gotten back on track with my credit after many years of struggling to pay everyone back. I am not about to go backwards. Can someone tell me who can I contact to get help with this?

Pinnacle Credit Services LLC contacted me about some account that was past due from 1995. The only information they had correct on me was my name and ss#. I asked for validation of the debt seeing as I do not have any clue at to what this is loan was for and this also has never shown up on my credit report, EVER! Then I got a letter threatening to send me to their attorney unless I respond by letter disputing the charge. I did send letter disputing charge and also requested validaiton of the debt again. No response until a demand letter came in the mail, so then I called and got some idiot name Chris Myers. I left him several messages to contact me and he never did. I happened to get off work early one day and called him and actually reached him. I started to give him my request for validation of debt and also asked if my account was noted that I sent dispute of charges in writing to their company...he hung up on me. I have never dealt with people like this before especially someone wanting your money. I am frustrated and don't know where to go from here. I have documented everything as far as whom and when and what was said during phone conversations and other messages I have left for other representatives from this company. I have heard about sending in a CMRRR to this company for debt validation. Could anyone tell me what this means and how do I get this form or go about sending the CMRRR?

Here is another number for Pinnacle 866-902-3451.

They are telling me I over over $3600 from a credit card bill in 2001. I never had a credit card with the company they are mentioning and I have excellent credit. They seem to have all my info except a turn of numbers in the SS#. I'm reporting them to the attorney general, not sure what else to do besides send a letter disputing the charge. The sent me a notarized statement with the account info on it. Could someone have stolen my identity? Any advice?

To all the so call stupid debtors being harrassed by collections that are not yours, or reported erronously use the tools our government has given us to fight these rats.
1) Fair Debt Collection act
2) Fair Credit reporting act
also there is FACTA I forget at the moment the correct acronym. This is a example of big business and the business is extortion plain and simple.
Collector just said it all above we will hound you until you pay.
your debt past the statuete of limitations so we cant report it legally to blemish your credit report we will hound you till you arrange to pay , until you admit it is yours or you actually cough up any money at all then we will reage the statute of limitations for another 7 years. That means never never talk to a collector on the phone. It is your right to have them stop harrassing you! dont look for their phone number look for their address. Then mail them disputing the debt and asking for validation of what you owe when they bought it from who they bought it and where by the way IS MY SINGNATURE ON THE CONTRACT that outlines the terms at which I would pay the ORIGINAL CREDITOR the intrest rate etc.

That means absolutely that an electronic statement from a company twice removed from the orignal creditor is not sufficient to validate you are the person who owes and for how much you owe. a statement of the balance owed is ENTIRELY INSUFFICIENT AND UNCOLLECTABLE IN COURT!

By all means NEVER EVER ignore a summons if they are dumb enough to sue you. They are counting on you not replying an answer and just calling them directly. You must file with the court an answer or they will garnish your wages etc. which sucks. This is plain and simple extortion.

They are always bluffing! Even if they bring to court months worth of statements from the original creditor the likelyhood of them producing a signed contract from the original creditor is next to nothing. So they will be unable to validate the debt in court. Now its true some judges are not as well versed in credit law as others and may side with the collection agency despite them being scum and illegal practices etc. But by standing up to them you make it costly to harrass people because lawyers are not paid pennies on the dollar like the debt sellers so they will back down most of the time before actually going in front of the judge.

However they are masters at manipulating people with FEAR tatics. They will often threaten ( a violation) whether they threaten garnishment or getting husbands introuble with CO's etc it is ILLEGAL to issues those threats also its illegal to swear at you over the phone but obviously from collectors rant above they do it all the time. For each violation these scum are then liable for automatic $1000 fine paid to you for such violations ( need proof of course! so a paper trail is of utmost importance and that is why the phone is the debt colectors best ally. They can hide behind it and claim an honest mistake but a letter from them harrasing you is another thing.

So the steps are 1) dont ever call them 2) place a freeze on your Credit reports and dispute addresses with credit agencies that are not your current address 3)send a letter to the collection agency disputing the debt and also include a phrase asking them to not contact you by phone at home or work ever! to only contact you through US mail (called a cease and desist letter ) All letters to the collection agency should be sent not normal US mail but Certified return recepit requested so that you can verify with post office if it was recieved and when and have the receipts in case you need to prove that you sent them and diligently try to verify the debt. This is start of paper trail always keep a copy of these letters for yourelf.
3) next you wait and in 30 days when no validation arrives you send a second letter. Or if they send validation that doesnt meet requirments of FDCA and FACTA then your rerequest the proper amount of information to be able to validate the debt.

This letter writing does two things 1st it should stop the harrasing phone calls and even if it doesnt it makes them in violation each time they call you after reciept of the letter asking to not be contacted with documentation ( a call log write down numbers from caller id and times they called maybe a n answering machine tape or voicemail recording ) you can then use the evidence of violations as pressure them to comply or to even delete the bad information on the credit report and cease collection activity.
3) Never admit it is your debt until they provide the correct amount of inormation according to FDCA and FACTA. ie in negotiating a settlement dont say it is yours but say you are willing to pay for this matter to be settled meaning deleted from your credit reports and retired ie not to be resold ever to anyone else. the way the settlement is important. look it up in a search do your homework and of course never pay a penny to them until they send you the settlement in writing.
Your credit rating is your proerty defend it like you would your house from these burglarers or like you would you children from these credit molestering bottom feeders.

NEVER GIVE IN NEVER SURRENDER

I received a letter from Nelson Watson & Associates to collect for a past due bill from Verizon Wireless, and the account was sold from Verizon to Pinnacle Credit Services. I called Verizon first, because I knew this was a mistake. Verizon confirmed it was their mistake, saying I had incurred an early cancellation fee in error. I had moved from the east coast to the west coast and kept the account, but somehow they showed that the east coast account was cancelled early instead of transferred. Verizon said no problem, they'll tell the collection agency to delete the account and that it was their error. Verizon said they'd contact the collection agency. They're also sending me a letter verifying all of this. I called Nelson/Watson, who instructed me to fax them the letter when I get it. I also called Pinnacle, using the number someone generously posted here:
1-888-809-2320
Pinnacle also gave me their address to send a copy of my letter to:
PO Box 640
Hopkins, MN 55343
Pinnacle said one Nelson/Watson gets my fax they'll be notified by Nelson/Watson and my account will be closed. I'm rather skeptical about all of this after reading everyone's posts. I have a feeling this is going to last a long time.

These people showed up on my credit report for the first time this year. I honestly have very little concept of what the debt even is, as it is in an amount that I have never owed anyone before. The only thing I can think of is that it is one of my old pre-divorce credit cards with about a thousand dollars tacked onto it for some unknown reason.

What makes me really mad is that the credit card was closed in 2002 but the way they are reporting it makes it look like a 2007 debt.

This is keeping me from getting a car loan amongst other things.

I disputed it with trans union, experion and equifax. Experion supposedly verified it & the other two are not done yet.

What else can be done? Is there any way to get them to reflect an accurate date?

I read some of these posts and I was frankly frightened to call. I gathered up the nerve and dialed the phone (952)939-8100 This was a local call for me. The "debt" turned out to be a clerical error at Exel Energy Company for $0.29. Steve Hall apologised on their behalf and wished me a Merry Xmas.

It seems Steve Hahn of Pinnacle Credit thought I was
dumb enough to send Him 648.20 on a phony Sears debt,
wrong! I know have the Federal Trade Commision to
investigate Steve Hahn & Pinnacle Credit,working with
all three credit bureaus! And the FBI also investigating Pinnacle Credit,Steve Hahn,Merchants
Credit Guide and Ken Hughes!
I suggest contacting Federal Trade Commision and
filing a complaint against Pinnacle Credit and Steve
Hahn!
And call Steve Hahn at 1-888-809-2320,and let Him
know exactly how unhappy You

Pinnacle credit and steve hahn,along with merchants
Credit guide,harassed me during the wee hours of
Every morning with threats,even posed a irs agents
And fbi agents,with threats to take all my money and
To throw me in prison! If i didn't pay 648.20 on a
Phony sears debt,i already verified with sears i had
No credit card in my name-in case of stolen id,nor
Do i owe sears any money!
so steve realizing i'm not paying him a cent,sent a
Unsign letter from pinnacle credit admitting guilt,
Also blaming sears too,ya right!
call steve hahn at 1-888-809-2320,and file a
Complaint with federal trade commision,and the fbi!
Don't waste your time filing a complaint with st louis
Park police,just a bit too lame,agent matt reilly is
A joke!

Pinnacle credit & steve hahn likes to get into any
One's personal credit file,and then summit a phony
Debt,not doing his homework first,because we had
Real bad credit,so i knew i never had a sears credit
Card or debt! I filed a complaint with federal trade
Commision and the fbi! And steve hahn can be reached
At 1-888-809-2320,weekdays,or leave a nice message
On his voice mail after hours...! Tell him,rodney s.
Sent you to his phone!

They tried to collect a debt that was over 5 years old using Nelson, Watson & Associates. 6 months after requesting additional info regarding the debt I find they placed it on my credit report and when I tried to refinance my house the lender told me I had to pay it off. I told the lender to keep his money and he backed down on me paying this off. My state has a 3 year statute of limitations on collecting the bill which had long passed so I filed a complaint with my state.

I received a letter from Pinnacle Credit Services stating that I owed $970 for Verizon Wireless, but I am not sure if that is a debt validation letter, and I do not recall using Verizon Wireless.

As I read thru these posts, I see a lot of people causing themselves unnecessary stress. I deal with people's credit every day, and this is the best advice for dealing with Collection Agencies-
1) If you intend to pay it, set up a payment plan unless you pay it all at once.
2) If you have no intention of ever paying off the collection (and you know right now whether or not you will EVER pay it off), then stop talking to the collection agency(s) immediately. Stop trying to play lawyer against them (they have a lot more money to spend on legal battles than you). Don't fall for any of their scare tactics (They cannot do a thing to you other than put it on your credit report). Simply stop talking to them and your credit will rebound much faster.
There's this funny little thing called a DLA (Date of Last Activity)... The longer it has been since that date, the less effect that collection has on your credit score. Except every time you decide to curse the collector for calling your house at 7:30pm you create ACTIVITY. You make the effect on your credit score like the collection is brand new.
So... IGNORE THEM and your credit score will go back up on its own (provided you are paying your bills now). Mortgage companies don't require you to pay off OLD collections anymore, finance companies don't either. Eventually, the collection account will drop off your report and if it doesn't... Who cares because it will be so old that nobody will give it a second look and it will no long be a factor in your credit score.
If the constant calls from Collectors bothers you, simply call your phone company and have "call screening" added to your line... this is a service that will not allow blocked phone #'s to call you. The caller must say their name, you receive a special ring at home, you listen to the automated message which includes the caller's name, and you either accept or decline the call. You never have to talk to a pushy collector. Most automated dialers these days never make it to recording a name.
Don't cause yourself the stress of trying to fight colletion agencies... It's a game for the collectors to see how mad they can get you (I know, I've been to a Citi Financial Loss Mitigation Call Center before... did a mortgage for the Ops Manager of the center... He had terrible credit... ironic).
Take it or leave it, that's my advice on collection agencies... I speak from experience in dealing with them.