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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default How to Inform Debt Collectors That They're Contacting the Wrong Person

    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.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: I Am Not the Person You Are Pursuing

    Unfortunately, there is little they can do. The laws protect the deadbeat not the innocent bystander. Unless the stuff shows up on her credit report or they instigate some court action specifically directed to her, there is NOTHING she can do but to continue to tell them she is not the person they are looking for.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: I Am Not the Person You Are Pursuing

    She should file timely disputes following any contact by a debt collector, and if she chooses can instruct them not to again contact her about the debt.

    She should get her credit reports from the three major bureaus to see if it gives her a clue as to what's going on, and whether there is something she could correct in her reports that would diminish the problem (such as her being erroneously associated with past addresses of this other person). Keep in mind, this could be identity theft.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: I Am Not the Person You Are Pursuing

    Thanks for the input. I really wanted to make sure we cover our bases before telling them off. We're confident it's not ID theft, but will keep an eye on the credit reports. Seems someone with a similar name absconded after getting credit, and CA's are just looking at anyone with the same name. The ethnicity of the name probably doesn't help.

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