My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Illinois
Trying to help my mother, who recently receive a few letters from CA's for debt she doesn't owe. They are after a person with with a similar name, and on some letters, not so similar. She replied to all of them with requests to validate debt. We thought this would be the end of it. But she has received back from one CA a few documents showing--you guessed it--someone else opened accounts they're trying to collect. My question is how to proceed from here. Apparently, the standard for validation isn't defined. Is the onus on us to prove it's not my mother? How do you prove a negative without giving up personal information? Can CA's assume you're who they're after and take action towards you after you inform them they have the wrong person? Thanks.

