Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Missouri

bill collection on cable from 9/01

my old cable co. sent my 9/01 bill to a collection agency and just now asking me for proof that i paid it. it has been almost 5 yrs and cable bills are not one of those that i save. i have asked for them to give me the billing month so i can make sure that i even lived there during the time that they say i owe for and they say they do not have it provide that nor can they. i always pay my bills, and on time, and i am guessing that they did not shut off the cable when i left and the people that moved in after me got a few free months worth of cable ON ME. shouldn't they have to be able to prove what the billing month is for so that i can show that i either lived there then and owe it or i did not live there and do not owe? i have called the collection agency and the cable co and neither one can seem to come up with this info. they say the burden is on me to prove i paid it, when that is not what the issue is. if i did not live there during the time they say i owe how can i prove i paid for something that i don't owe in the first place? they also said they are putting this on my credit report. any help would be much appreciated.

thanks in advance for your help!


Asked on 3/15/06, 10:22 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

Re: bill collection on cable from 9/01

You need to write to the collection agency and tell them you what "verification of the debt" in those terms. They must verify the debt before taking any further step.

You seem to be saying that you think this debt comes down to whether you were still living in the residence. Your living in the place that you are being charged for service is not a make or break matter. Often parents purchase cable service for their children at college or for elderly relatives. If you ordered cable srvice, and had not yet requested that it be shut off, you may be obligated to pay for service provided, despite having moved.

Good Luck

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Answered on 3/17/06, 4:13 am


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