Zombie Debt

"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
01/28/2016 at 12:44 • Filed to: debt, collectors

Originally posted on August 5, 2015.

Repost because they’re back. It’s tax time. A lot of people have extra cash so why not take advantage of them while they have money?

Back in my early 20s, I bought a car I couldn’t afford. A lot of people do that, and I was one of them. When I lost my full-time job and had only a part-time pizza delivery job to support myself, I called the bank that loaned me the money and told them to pick up the car. It got sold at auction.

That was 2003.

This morning I got a call from a company named, “Jacobson and Wright,” stating they had a legal action against me. I identified myself and asked them what this was, and they said “There was a car purchased through [bank I didn’t remember the name of] and you have an outstanding balance of $13,500 to pay back.”

I said, “that’s funny. I owe far less than that on my current car loan and the last auto loan I had was repossessed over a decade ago. When it sold, I owed like $2,000”

He replied, “Yes. That’s the one we’re talking about. There’s a legal action against you for that amount.”

I asked him for something in writing and he demanded a payment. I said, “no. I need to see what legal authority you have to collect that debt.” He got mean and started threatening me.

So I hung up.

I looked up their website and it appeared to have been put together with a text generator.

Watch out, folks. Your past mistakes can keep coming back because unscrupulous people want to make a buck. They’re buying charged-off debt that can’t legally be collected anymore. The only entity that can really hold a debt against you after seven years is the Department of Education. If you made a mistake more than seven years ago, walk away from it. Legally they can’t do anything to you.

DISCUSSION (15)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/05/2015 at 11:14

This is good Oppo

Grindintosecond > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/05/2015 at 11:26

Alert team Demuro!

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Grindintosecond
08/05/2015 at 11:29

I was thinking more Mr. Lehto would probably have a little more experience about this. I’m sure that he covered this at least once in law school.

As Du Volant > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/05/2015 at 11:30

Also, if you pay one of these shady ass companies, the debt gets dragged allllll the way back to the top of your credit bureau. So if you have an unpaid debt from ten years ago that’s all but fallen off your credit report, now it’ll rocket right back to the top with a note on it something along the lines of “Settled in collections.” Which is a bad thing. It’s actually better for your credit to just let sleeping dogs lie.

Grindintosecond > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/05/2015 at 11:30

Ah, Lehto. Got mixed up while chasing a multi-vitamin with coffee and clicking ‘post’

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > As Du Volant
08/05/2015 at 11:34

Yes. For a dick-joke-filled explanation of that, click here.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Grindintosecond
08/05/2015 at 11:35

I understand that. ORLOVE!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 12:55

Hey I don’t think I ever found out what’s happening with the soul? Is it getting rebuilt or did you replace it? if so with what?

Chariotoflove > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 12:55

You done good.

Check out the laws in your state for debt collection. In mine, you have no obligation to deal with a debt collection agency, only the debt-holder. So, even if it’s a legitimate debt, you can “fire” the collection agency—basically tell them to go to hell—and deal directly with the agency to which you owe money.

I hope Lehto chimes in here. It’s an interesting area of law.

StingrayJake > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 12:57

These “debt collection law firms” are usually a scam. They’ll claim to be with some fake but official-sounding law firm and tell you they’ve been authorized to collect on a debt. They’ll usually threaten to press criminial charges to scare people into paying them without going through the normal legal channels.

If they were actually collecting on a specific debt, they would be able to tell you the details of that debt. Never give them any sort of insight into past debts. You mistake was telling them that you owed an amount on a car that sold at auction. That’s why they said, “Yeah, that’s the one,” even though it was a different amount from what they originally claimed.

My wife and I got several of these calls for a couple months until we started blocking their numbers. I once called them back and asked for information about their firm and where they’re located and the woman I spoke to got extremely defensive and threatened to call the cops on me.

If you’ve ever had any sort of debt or you know you defaulted on something, these calls can be scary. But they’re almost always bull-shitting you, fishing for information so that they can claim their collecting on said debt. Pressed for information, they’ll usually threaten legal action. A collection of a debt must be presented in writing so ask for a certified letter or a fax of the information on the debt they’re collecting. If it sounds legit but might still be fishy, get a lawyer and tell them that all communications are to go through the lawyer.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
01/28/2016 at 12:59

It’s all fixed. The paint on the front panels is a little thinner than the rest of the car but otherwise it looks just right.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 13:12

Wow that was quick! In Alberta it would take you a month just to get an estimate and yet your car is fix in less time than that.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
01/28/2016 at 13:21

The Charlotte area has a bunch of body shops competing for insurance company business. I literally got a dozen calls and three letters within two days of the accident. The shop that offered to waive my deductible and detail the car got my business.

SteveLehto > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 13:21

Yes, ignore the zombie calls to some extent. But if you can, find out who is calling and then contact an attorney who does Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cases. There is a good chance you can sue THEM and make some money in the process.

Birddog > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
01/28/2016 at 13:51

Time Barred Debt varies from state to state.

Here is a handy chart from Bankrate.com that shows the statute of limitations for every state.