Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California
Can A Bank Keep Pe-Posting An Old Discharged Debt on the Credit Record?
In 1999 Washington Mutual allowed an unauthorized debit against my bank account which resulted in a large overdraft and the eventual closure of my account. A few weeks later they sent me a letter stating that the debt was ''charged off'' and I never heard from them again. Now after 5 years they sent me a collection notice that's clearly intended just to make sure the item stays on my credit record. Is it legal for a creditor to keep putting the same debt on someone's credit record even after they said they charged it off?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Can A Bank Keep Pe-Posting An Old Discharged Debt on the Credit Record?
If it was a valid debt, it will remain on your credit record for 7 years from the date of the charge off, or last activity prior to charge off (such as when they closed the account).