Topic archive
Research and practical notes filed under this topic.
January 29, 2025
A debt you do not recognize may be a scam, an account reported in error, a paid balance being pursued again, or a legitimate account that was transferred to a collector. This guide explains how to verify the claim, use the federal validation process when it applies, correct credit-report errors, and preserve records without assuming that every unfamiliar collection contact is fraudulent.
Read the analysisJanuary 11, 2025
Zombie debt and phantom debt describe different due-diligence problems: an older account with a potentially expired litigation period versus a claimed account whose identity, balance, or ownership needs proof. This guide explains the records to test, the consumer protections that may apply, and why state law must be checked before acting.
Read the analysisApril 24, 2015
An aged receivable is not automatically time-barred, and a time-barred debt is not defined by a portfolio’s resale history. This guide separates account age, charge-off and credit-reporting timelines from the state-law limitations analysis that determines whether a debt collector may pursue legal action.
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