topic Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's in Rebuilding Your Credit

15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Fri, 19 May 2023 11:02:45 GMT

Hey fico-fam,

Two days ago I rec'd notifications about a US Cellular collections for $1309 w/ :

Estimated month and year this item will be removed 08/2024

I am 100% positive this is at least 15+ years old. Yes, at least that old. I have had Xfinity Mobile and Verizon for the past 15 years. I did, however, have a US Cellular acct but it is at least oever 15 years old. About a month ago I had a bunch of addresses removed from TU and Eq and then I get a collections notice from Jefferson Cap stating I owe them $1309 for a US Cell bill. I disputed this on both TU and Eq and to my amazement, TU has already verified this in less than two days. I know not to dispute valid and accurate info, which is why I disputed this. What exactly is my next step? Do I file something with CFPB? I am not sitting quietly with this one. I am honest so if this was accurate I would own up to to it and PFD, but it is not accurate and this is very wrong for this company to do this.

Please send some advice, thank you!

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

JoeRockhead — Fri, 19 May 2023 12:33:34 GMT

Based on their calculations it seems to be from 2017. You sound pretty confident you ended your service with them 15 years ago and in good standing. Perhaps someone, somewhere has their dates wrong and apparently was reported as such. Or, is it possible that someone else had an account opened in your name without your knowledge? Have you contacted US Cellular to try to get some documentation or confirmation of the account opening and closing dates? You can certainly file a complaint with the CFPB, but I would think they will want some type of proof to support your claims so I would gather all you can prior to filing a complaint. Odd that it's popping up now, wish you the best of luck.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Fri, 19 May 2023 17:13:20 GMT

How do you recieve the "notification"? I searched and saw there are USCellular stores in your state. Is there one close? I'd go there and tell them this is way beyond a collection timeline.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 01:22:54 GMT

@JoeRockhead wrote:
Based on their calculations it seems to be from 2017. You sound pretty confident you ended your service with them 15 years ago and in good standing. Perhaps someone, somewhere has their dates wrong and apparently was reported as such. Or, is it possible that someone else had an account opened in your name without your knowledge? Have you contacted US Cellular to try to get some documentation or confirmation of the account opening and closing dates? You can certainly file a complaint with the CFPB, but I would think they will want some type of proof to support your claims so I would gather all you can prior to filing a complaint. Odd that it's popping up now, wish you the best of luck.

@JoeRockhead thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I am 100% postitive this is not a tru date line. I do acknowledge having a US Cellular account years ago, but we are talking back in 2007, easy. What is odd about this is about 1 month ago I updated all my old adressses on both Eq and TU and then also froze my other CR's like Lexis, etc. Then shortly after these actions I got a collections notification from Jefferson capital for this acct. But because I knew that I did not have a true collection from them I ignored the letter and tossed it. Fast forward to two days ago, I then get the notifications on Eq and TU that Jefferson placed this CO on both of my credit reports. Another telling fact is that Ex does not have this CO nor did I get any notification from Ex that this was placed there and the kicker is Ex is the only CR I did not update any old addresses due to their policy of not being able to update old addresses w/o calling them directly. I didn't have the time to call them so I just did not bother with that CR. So is it a coincidence that I Ex hasn't had any recent updating and they are the only bureau that didn't just have this CO dumped on??? I know many times we say something isn't ours but this is legit not any account that is in any time frame to be reporting. I know this for certain bc I switched from US Cellular to Verizon around 2007/08. This is an old Collection of mine but it is way beyond the point of being legally placed on two of my credit reports. I had not even thought about doing anything when they sent the collections last month like I said bc I knew how old this was truly. But now that two out of 3 reports now have this on there, I am certainly going to do my due diligence to get this remedied ASAP. So do you suggest calling US Cell or can I go any US cell store and ask them to look up this old account? Will they even have any info with it being so old? Thank you again for taking the time to reply to my post @JoeRockhead !

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 01:31:10 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
How do you recieve the "notification"? I searched and saw there are USCellular stores in your state. Is there one close? I'd go there and tell them this is way beyond a collection timeline.

@FireMedic1 hi and thanks for replying. Yes there are a couple US Cell stores in my area. If I do that, will the store have any info on my account with it being so old and will they be able to tell me in a store? I am 100% adamant and POSITIVE that this account is over 15 years old. I just replied to @JoeRockhead telling him that I had recently (within the past month) requested all my old addressed on TU and Eq be deleted due to some of them being on average 10-20 year old addresses and then I get this older than dirt CO added to the same credit bureaus that deleted those addressess? Ironically, all the addressed that I asked TU and Eq to remove I did so bc they were all too old to be on my credit reports. So the addresses were all deleted and then this happens? Any additional advice???? Please and thank you all.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Sat, 20 May 2023 09:48:17 GMT

Go to a store. They can call corporate and probably get it removed. Its past the FRCA laws to collect on. Way past it. If they give you any grief. Then FRCA lawyer up time. Good Luck! Hope all is well.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:31:22 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
Go to a store. They can call corporate and probably get it removed. Its past the FRCA laws to collect on. Way past it. If they give you any grief. Then FRCA lawyer up time. Good Luck! Hope all is well.

@FireMedic1 thank you. I will try to get my butt over to a store this weekend. I get it when I screw up and it is my fault. But when I screw up but it is illegal to do your thang.....well, then shame on them. Shame on me for being young and dumb years ago, but seriously shame on them for practicing like this. I am doing well and I hope you are too. TY again FM.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:31:24 GMT

@IamWesty12Forgot. If you do go the legal route. FRCA states the company has to pay your attorney fees and a oops bonus.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:33:30 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
@IamWesty12Forgot. If you do go the legal route. FRCA states the company has to pay your attorney fees and a oops bonus.

@FireMedic1 bonus!

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

JoeRockhead — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:48:05 GMT

@IamWesty12 you're very welcome. Based on your reply it would seem like my initial thought of someone having entered the account information wrong is likely the case here. It should have been 2007, not 2017. A simple typo on someones part? Either way, this is likely too old to be collected on as FireMedic stated and I would follow through with either a visit to your local store, or get their main office on the line and attempt to get to the bottom of it. If, for example US Cellular tells you something like they don't have a record, or retain account records past ten years, then that tells you the 2017 date was entered wrong, either unintentionally or otherwise by the CA. I guess I'd base my next move depending on what transpires from the conversation with US Cellular.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 10:50:51 GMT

@JoeRockhead wrote:
@IamWesty12 you're very welcome. Based on your reply it would seem like my initial thought of someone having entered the account information wrong is likely the case here. It should have been 2007, not 2017. A simple typo on someones part? Either way, this is likely too old to be collected on as FireMedic stated and I would follow through with either a visit to your local store, or get their main office on the line and attempt to get to the bottom of it. If, for example US Cellular tells you something like they don't have a record, or retain account records past ten years, then that tells you the 2017 date was entered wrong, either unintentionally or otherwise by the CA. I guess I'd base my next move depending on what transpires from the conversation with US Cellular.

@JoeRockhead thank you. I was thinking the same sort of human error. I will call/go to store this weekend. Wish me luck. Thank you again for helping.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 20 May 2023 15:28:37 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
@IamWesty12Forgot. If you do go the legal route. FRCA states the company has to pay your attorney fees and a oops bonus.

@FireMedic1 @JoeRockhead sorry I just had a thought before I call them. Obviously I don't want to give US Cell any personal information that isn't needed, so what do I ask them and give them for info? My name and address? I have lived at the same address since 2014 and prior to 2014 only one other address so just my name and address? Do I give them my DOB or any other identifers? I don't want to offer up anything that I shouldn't but I need their info so........thank you again guys.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

JoeRockhead — Sat, 20 May 2023 17:08:47 GMT

@IamWesty12 you should be fine to give them whatever information they need to determine who you are so they can give you the information you're looking for, last four of SSN, etc... They likely already have that information on you. I'd decline to answer or agree to anything else that doesn't pertain to simply verifying your old account and dates of service.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Sun, 21 May 2023 10:33:55 GMT

I"ll add one more thing and back out. If the store Rep cant fix it. Find anything that shows when it ended for upload along with their notice to:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

Junk Debt Buyer.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Thu, 25 May 2023 22:50:38 GMT

@IamWesty12Did you go to the store?

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:58:33 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
@IamWesty12Did you go to the store?

@FireMedic1 @JoeRockhead sorry it has been so long since my post. I have tried speaking to a US Cellular rep and have gotten nothing back. This sounds weird but for some reason I am hesitant about going into an actual US Cell store because I don't want to give them any personal info. Like I said, the only account I can think of that i had with US Cell was well back two decades and the last thing I want to do is give them any info that I shouldn't. After all, it is their burden to have proof of this debt, correct? Also, with my hours at work being so unpredicatable, by the time I get done they closest store is about 40 minutes away and they close at 6. Remember, another benefit of living rural (*says tongue and cheek*) Man, I gotta get out of small town USA and back to a city life.

So other than going in a store, I also disputed immediately with the big 3 and of course almost days after all 3 came back as verified. Since them dumping this debt on my CR's they have also sent me a collections notice of an already paid Verizon CO that i had paid and settled for less back in March 2021 and the balance they are stating I owe them is the differnece of what I paid to settle the CO and the original balance. WTH? So first I get a JDB with an extremely old collections dumped on all 3 CR's and then the same JDB know sends me an illegal bill for a CO that has been paid and settled and noted this way on my CR for over 2 years. What are my next steps? Sorry, why can't I seem to ever fully break free of this credit crap?

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:12:23 GMT

Welcome back @IamWesty12 . Your not allowed to leave that long again. Find a FRCA lawyer. Show them all this mess with a free consult. So many violations it isnt funny. Once found violating FRCA laws. Fines and lawyers costs will be in you favor. Sorry you have to go thru this.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

JoeRockhead — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:12:54 GMT

Welcome back @IamWesty12, I agree whole heartily with @FireMedic1 and the path he suggested going forward.

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

FireMedic1 — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:33:23 GMT

Did some diggin: (Show me the Money!!!!!!!)

Basic Damages (pick one):
Actual (provable) damages (no limit), or statutory damages between $100 and $1,000 (to get these you don't have to prove that the violation harmed you).

If the violator was an individual who lied to get your credit report, or used it for an improper purpose, then the greater of:
your actual, provable damages (no limit), or $1,000 flat (no minimum).

Punitive damages, as decided by the court.

Attorneys' fees and costs. (15 U.S.C. § 1681n).

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/remedies-fcra-violations.html

Re: 15+ years old collection with US Cell that Jefferson Cap dumped on my CR's

IamWesty12 — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 13:23:49 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
Did some diggin: (Show me the Money!!!!!!!)
Basic Damages (pick one):
Actual (provable) damages (no limit), or statutory damages between $100 and $1,000 (to get these you don't have to prove that the violation harmed you).
If the violator was an individual who lied to get your credit report, or used it for an improper purpose, then the greater of:
your actual, provable damages (no limit), or $1,000 flat (no minimum).
Punitive damages, as decided by the court.
Attorneys' fees and costs. (15 U.S.C. § 1681n).
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/remedies-fcra-violations.html

@FireMedic1 @JoeRockhead thanks guys, I missed you too, lol. Yup, I took the plunge and contacted a FCRA lawyer who upon getting papers faxed to her agreed to take on my case without any fees up front. I get paid, she gets paid in that order. Wow, I feel UNSTOPPABLE. Tee hee, jk, but it felt good typing in all caps about these slimey junk debt buyers. She said on the multiple telephone calls daily that never lead to a voice mail including calls within seconds of the previous call, since they decided to do this, have totaled over 100's on times they've called me. I will keep you posted, I hated to go this route but come on......thanks again guys! I am back and won't be MIA any time soon.