Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Massachusetts
My credit Report
Ok, so I got a phone call from a collecting agency AMEX saying that I owe about 80,000 dollars. They said the credit card was opened in 1990 (around that time) and they asked my name, which was correct and also my credit card which was correct. The issue here is that.. I am only 19 years old that means i opened the credit card when I was about 4 years old and that i charged 80,000 dollars to it. I never did such a thing. Some of the questions they ask me are correct but the other questions are incorrect like my address. My SSN is correct that they give me.
So what i decided to do was check my credit report at a credit report webiste, I was shocked. So i guess i have 17 credit cards opened, i live in NY (i actually live in Massachusetts, I have my whole life). I just opened my first credit card about a year back and now I have all these false statements on my credit report. I wanted to see what i could do because these people will not leave me alone and they are very aggressive. Thank you.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: My credit Report
It is very likely that this debt was purchased from a collection agency, who purchased it from another collection agency, who purchased it from AMEX. One thing people don't know is that collection agencies will continue to go after a debt, even if the debt is noncollectable and unverifiable.
It is very likely, if you have not made any payments on this account or otherwise affirmed the debt in anyway, that contact from an attorney will resolve this issue. I have been very successful in resolving issues like this for my clients.
It is very possible that you have been the victim of identity theft. Perhaps a family member used your personal information while you were a minor to open credit card accounts, etc.
I am located in Quincy. Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance.
Re: My credit Report
You can assert your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA prohibits consumer collection agencies (debt collectors) from engaging in unfair, deceptive, harassing, abusive and misleading conduct and provides the consumer with a private right of action against any offending party. If the consumer prevails, he/she is entitled to actual & statutory damages, costs and reasonable attorney fees for any and all violations of the aforementioned Act. Please feel free to contact my office for a free initial consult based on the facts of your specific situation.;))