Harrassed by debt collector for a payment which i already made 7 years ago. Advise please!?

Call the cops on the collector. They have no right to harass you EVEN IF your were guilty of the debt. (Which I'm not saying you are)

OK...from watching the Suze Orman show - she gets calls about this stuff. She has said that there is a statute of limitations on debt. Frequently the debt will be sold to a 3rd party to collect. These places hound you like crazy. If you start to pay the debt - you can toll the statute and become responsible for the debt again.

I'd not make any payments and consult a professional for advice. Even if you had not paid the debt in full- b/c of the amount of time, you may not owe the money.

harrassed debt collector payment 7 years advise

I am confused, did you pay the computer off in full? You said you "stopped dealing with them" But didn't say if you paid off in full.

If you didn't pay it off, that collection company does have the right to "collect" but they don't have the right to harass you like that. They also have to provide you proof that they bought the debt and that it was still owed when they bought it. It's very common for a collection agency to "buy" a debt that has already been paid. Which is why it is critical to keep "charge-off" recepits for at least 7 years.

Bottom line is, they need to prove this before you owe them anything (assuming you did pay it off in full) But if you didn't pay in full, they do have every right to attempt to collect that is protected by law. Poor customer service isn't enough reason to stop paying money you owe.

Check your credit history to see if you have any standing debts against you for this claim.

Edit:

Regardless if you owe on the debt or not, you do have the right to demand they stop calling or visiting you and both home and work. You can also demand that they do not contact anyone associated with you. By law they have to obey. But then they have to choose whether or not they want to sue you or drop the debt.

I thought they had a finite amount of time to contact you if you owed them something... 7 years seems way too long. I wouldn't pay a dime, call the cops next time he is on your property and get a restraining order. Send them the contact info you have for the company as well...

i believe there is a federal law in place that makes the creditor provide proof of debt. in writing, using certified mail, request this proof. they have 30 days to respond or the debt is discredited and all pursuit must cease. if they continue to harass u after the 30 day period u can take legal action against them.

Call consumer affairs or the Better Business Bureau. In my state the statute of limitations on this is three years and this is common. The situation that you describe is bogus on their part.

As far as my law takes me, after 5 years they r not suppose to have record of your debt, they r not even suppose to call you so approach your nearest legal advisor and explain your problem to them!!! and as for the 3rd party they are not suppose to harass you so talk to your law people!!!!!!!!!!!

you can write the collection agency a "drop dead" letter. clark howard's website has some really good info on this subject. if you tell them to stop contacting you, by law, they have to stop. here's the address:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/drop_dead_letter.htm...

you should also contact the better business bureau. good luck.

If they are calling you, call your phone company and ask them how to report both companies - the original and the collector.