Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania
unfair practices: JBC
In December of 1998 I moved out of an apartment in PA and moved to another state. When I left I was paid in full and the apartment complex was to assume the electric back into its name. My husband is in the Air Force and over the last 7 years we have lived at 5 different residences. Therefore, I have not been able to be contacted. I was recently contacted by a collection agency saying that I had a past due utility bill from the apartment in PA in 1999. I have proof that I was not living in the apartment and have wrote a letter of dispute to the company and requested that contact with me should be done in writing. I never heard from that company again, but have recently been contacted by JBC legal group saying that I am still required to pay this bill. Do I need to dispute each and every credit company that tries to collect on this? Also, how long can they collect on this debt? It has been a very long time and I no longer have any records to prove my case ie. check stubs or account info. What should I do?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: unfair practices: JBC
Call them and tell them that 1) you are not acknowledging that it is your bill; 2) that the statute of limitations in PA for utility bills is 4 years; and 3) that if they persist in contacting you or put anything on your credit report, that you will sue them for violation of the Federal Collection law.
Understand that the 4 year statute of limitations starts over if you acknowledge that it's your bill, or if you make a payment, or in any way do something that acknowledges that the bill is yours.
If you haven't done any of that in the last 4 years, you should be okay.
Email me if you have further questions.
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