Requests for debt validation from a debt collector must be in writing.
Informal requests via phone do not impose any provisions of the DV process.
What does the reporting on the OC account show as to payment history and delinquencies, and most importantly, the current status as of their last reporting?
Do you recall the debt being delinquent when you closed it?
REporting of a $0 balance by a creditor can occur either because the debt was paid, or because they sold the remaining debt.
Thus, the $0 balance does not mean there is no debt balance.
If you do contest that the debt was paid and not delinquent when you closed the account, then your next step should be to request debt validation from the debt collector.
The bear has already poked you, so I would request validation.
If they have not yet sent a dunning notice, then your DV will be timely, and thus impose an automatic cease collection bar against them.
The "peril" is that if the debt is, in fact, valid and they provide validation, they can then immediately report to the CRAs. That you cannot prevent.
Alternately, you could choose to forgo a DV if you know the debt is valid and likely to be verified, and instead send them a pay for not reporting offer.
If accepted, it would both discharge the debt and prevent reporting of their collection.
