Need Advice Any Lawyer Types

[SlowWhite]

Ok today on lunch break I finally returned a phone call from a guy that had called the house twice before but I wasn't home.

I didn't recognize the name, but Jenny wanted me to find out who it was.

anyrate long story short it was a collections agency for Sprint PCS. Turns out they are claiming I owe them $220 for a bill back in 2000.

Here's the deal. - I had a Cell phone and I did cancel it early, I canceled it because my work kept calling me on it and it wasn't a work paid for phone. So I canceled Paid the charges. And never heard anything from Sprint or anyone else since.

Now I don't think I still have any of my stuff from back in 2000.

But anyrate here's the kicker. They say they've been charging me 21% since 2000 for the bill. And the total is now up to $220. But this is the first time they've tried to get a hold of me.

And when I asked for proof of Billing they said we don't have the records other then the original Spring claim stating/account stating I owe them money.

They asked for a Show of Good Faith payment. So I told them to kiss my ass I'm not paying for anything or accepting responsiblity until I get proof that I actually owe this. I said send me a copy of my Last Spring PCS Statement that shows this whole thing. They said we don't have them. I said well can you get that from sprint, and they said Sprint won't have it either.

So basically they have no proof that I didn't pay the bill. Sprint nor this company has tried to contact me in 4 years. Althought they said they sent to statements to an address which I haven't live at in 4 years. But say that's not there fault it didn't get forwarded. I said it's not my fault either. And replyed I haven't heard a word from either sprint or Your company in 4 years now out of no where you call me up say you've been charging me 21% over the last 5 years on an outstanding bill. I said this is a Scam you realize that. I said there is no way in hell I'm going to pay the incured 21% over the last 5 years and if you plan to come after me for it I'll see you in coart. And honestly I said I'm even thining about doing anyways since this is a Scam. I was never notified about it in 5 years from either of your company's till today. I said send me the proof/information. I'll check to see if I still have any of my old account information to verify.

I'm not even sure if I have any of my reciepts or bills from back then. All they have is an account number, name, Social, and total amount.

So my question is what the hell should I do. Seriously Never heard a work about it. From either company ever. And what the hell would have been the original balance anyways like a dollar?

[A//// Guy]

Unless you get a really good lawyer your kinda screwed... Going up against big business is tough.

[dylan]

If they have nothing to go with except their computer says you owe $220 you should not worry. What would a judge say if this were even to go to court? No proof = no liability.

[AJ]

chanes are sprint will not waste the court fees and time of their big dogs for $220 if this is even a real claim. First is call up a credit place like equifax or some shit that allows you to find out what's on your credit. If they have been trying to collect in the past 4 years it should show there. Get a copy of it and if it shows nothing, and they take you to court with no paperwork and you have paperwork they will lose.

I spent a few good years in the cell phone business and know all their little tricks for billing, shutting phones off and well just about every inch on how it all works.

If they call be nice, deny everything, make them get paperwork, and watch them go away.

[Kracka]

Call Sprint and talk with them rather than the collection agency, the CA is just a 3rd party that can take more drastic measures in order to obtain the owned money. Sprint will most deffinately have the statements you are requesting, if for nothing else they are required to hold on to them for a minimum of 7 years for tax purposes. What was the original amount owed? More often than not if you talk with Sprint directly they will just make you pay the original amount and wave the fees (same way with service charges at banks as long as it is not a reocurring thing). The last thing I have to say is regarding your old address: that is actually your fault since your old address was the one you gave on the account, they have no way of knowing that you moved and I am guessing you didn't register with the post office to have your mail forwarded; or possibly your forwarding request expired.

[IndiEP]

Originally posted by TalonTSiDude@Aug 24 2004, 02:58 PM
The last thing I have to say is regarding your old address: that is actually your fault since your old address was the one you gave on the account, they have no way of knowing that you moved and I am guessing you didn't register with the post office to have your mail forwarded; or possibly your forwarding request expired.
If he paid the bill, why does it matter if they know his new address or not? It was done and over with. Good job on not bending over on this. I'd call up sprint and talk to someone who knows whats going on and if they call back demand to speak to their superviser and try to get some answers.

[SlowWhite]

To answer some questions:

1) filled out my forwarding address

2) I paid the bill, which is why I never heard anything for going to be 5 years in Dec

3) The original guy that called got so flustered with my comments, he put his supervisor on the phone, and I went off on her as well. Personally I fell it's a scam. They kept asking me to give them a "Good Faith" down payment. But I just told them to forget it I'm not going to give them anything, or take responsibility for this until they prove I have these bills.

4) I asked them to send me paper work and they said all they have is my Name, account #, and a Total amount. I said I want to see my last statement from Sprint, etc that shows this account was never settle.


Anyways this just feels to much like a scam.. And isn't there a statute of limitations where after 3 years they can't do anything anyways?

I don't know but man did I go off on these jack ass's. I would have been fine and nice until they said they'd been charging me 21% interest over the last 5 years.

I was like this is the first time I've heard anything. about it. I was never contacted by Sprint or your company prior to this phone call. Man did that get me all pissed off. Talk about Scam's, or a process put in place to Fuck you over.

Doing the math I get the original amount to be $67.69

[Jana]

Did you call Sprint yet? That's the first step I would do to find out if it's legit or not.

[SlowWhite]

I haven't yet. - I'll do that tonight.

[illz]

if there were a statute of limitations on bills the world would be a better place and bankruptcy lawyers would be out of business