Niagara Credit Solutions trying to collect on past-SOL debt
Date: Mon, 08/24/2009 - 20:57
Hello,
I was hoping I could get some advice on how to handle my current situation. Recently, I received some rude voice messages from someone at Niagara Credit Solutions. I never could understand her name. The first call was on my cell phone and she told me she was an auditor and I needed to call her immediately. There was also a message on my home phone and she even called my husband's cell phone. I have no idea how they got his number. Both of those messages were also rude and demanded I call immediately. The next morning, the same person called my cell again and said this was my last chance and she was not going to wait all day for me to call. They wanted to discuss "options" or "believe me, I will make that decision for you," or something to that effect. This was Friday. Then today, Monday, she left a nice voice message on our home phone and also my husband's cell. So much for it being my "last chance," right?
I have not received anything in the mail from them that I can recall. However, we moved a few months ago so it is possible they sent something that never got forwarded from our old address. They called our new phone number, though, so you'd think they could find our new address as well.
Anyway, the only thing I could think this may be related to is an old credit card debt that was charged off when I was in college. I got into a financial bind and could not pay. The last payment I made was sometime in 2004. A few other collection agencies have had the account but none could ever validate it so they eventually gave up and sold it again. I'm still not in a position where I could pay off the amount that has more than doubled due to the ridiculously high fees and interest rate the collection agencies have tacked on. If they offered to settle, my concern is that this is past the SOL (credit card/open-ended accounts SOL expires at 3 years in my state). Also, I think the original negative mark on my credit report is going to fall off sooner rather than later, too. I just don't know what to do.
Should I just send a debt validation letter and a cease and desist telephone communication letter and see what happens? They can call me all they want- I won't talk to them over the phone but I'm willing to communicate in writing. But I don't want them to call my family or my workplace.
I need to pull my credit report again and see if they have showed up on it yet (I pulled all three in February and went back to my copies- Niagara is not listed on any of them).
I know this is past the SOL in my state but I'm just scared, I guess. If I had a ton of money laying around I'd just pay and be done with it but who does these days? I've worked hard the past few years to get my finances in order and pay/settle other debt and this one item is the only thing left (if in fact, this is what Niagara is trying to collect on).
Any advice? Words of encouragement? I've learned my lesson, believe me. I just want to get on with my life.
I was hoping I could get some advice on how to handle my current situation. Recently, I received some rude voice messages from someone at Niagara Credit Solutions. I never could understand her name. The first call was on my cell phone and she told me she was an auditor and I needed to call her immediately. There was also a message on my home phone and she even called my husband's cell phone. I have no idea how they got his number. Both of those messages were also rude and demanded I call immediately. The next morning, the same person called my cell again and said this was my last chance and she was not going to wait all day for me to call. They wanted to discuss "options" or "believe me, I will make that decision for you," or something to that effect. This was Friday. Then today, Monday, she left a nice voice message on our home phone and also my husband's cell. So much for it being my "last chance," right?
I have not received anything in the mail from them that I can recall. However, we moved a few months ago so it is possible they sent something that never got forwarded from our old address. They called our new phone number, though, so you'd think they could find our new address as well.
Anyway, the only thing I could think this may be related to is an old credit card debt that was charged off when I was in college. I got into a financial bind and could not pay. The last payment I made was sometime in 2004. A few other collection agencies have had the account but none could ever validate it so they eventually gave up and sold it again. I'm still not in a position where I could pay off the amount that has more than doubled due to the ridiculously high fees and interest rate the collection agencies have tacked on. If they offered to settle, my concern is that this is past the SOL (credit card/open-ended accounts SOL expires at 3 years in my state). Also, I think the original negative mark on my credit report is going to fall off sooner rather than later, too. I just don't know what to do.
Should I just send a debt validation letter and a cease and desist telephone communication letter and see what happens? They can call me all they want- I won't talk to them over the phone but I'm willing to communicate in writing. But I don't want them to call my family or my workplace.
I need to pull my credit report again and see if they have showed up on it yet (I pulled all three in February and went back to my copies- Niagara is not listed on any of them).
I know this is past the SOL in my state but I'm just scared, I guess. If I had a ton of money laying around I'd just pay and be done with it but who does these days? I've worked hard the past few years to get my finances in order and pay/settle other debt and this one item is the only thing left (if in fact, this is what Niagara is trying to collect on).
Any advice? Words of encouragement? I've learned my lesson, believe me. I just want to get on with my life.
You still owe the debt and they have every right to collect it.
You still owe the debt and they have every right to collect it. However being past the SOL they just cannot commence legal action. Send them a FOAD letter.
Thanks SoapLady. I know that I still owe and they can try to col
Thanks SoapLady. I know that I still owe and they can try to collect. If there was any way I could have worked something out earlier to pay it off, I would have. If I send them a FOAD letter, will they probably just sell it off to the next collection agency? If it falls off my credit report soon but someone is still trying to collect on it, how much damage will it do to my credit report if one day I am able to pay it off and do so for my conscience?
