I just got a letter in the mail from a collage I attended a couple class at in 1996. I didn't have a studuent loan for the cost. I just paid the school for the classes. I just received a letter from the school saying I owe almost 600.00. They are therenting to go to a collection agency and report to the credit bureaus. I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder why they are contacting me now. Can they send this to collection 9 years after the fact? What should I do?

Did you keep the school informed of your current address? Was your school address different from your home address???

They can't sue you since it is past the 7 year mark but they can collect particularly if they are a state school or a non profit school. If they are a state school, they can put a lien against your state tax return.

LynnInMN,

Can they still put the account on the OP's credit report though?

No. After 7 years, it's out of the reporting SOL. This particular account would be 9 years old, so it shouldn't be reportable.

However, I have to take exception to Lynn's post about them not being able to sue the OP. IF the contract is considered written, then the OP would need to verify what his particular state statutes say. If after nine years they suddenly contacted me, I would wonder if they are doing so because the SOL is approaching and they are going to make a move.

I haven't kept in contact with the school at all. My home address at the time I was in school was my dads house. Ilived at home and commuted. Since then I have been married and changed my last name and had two different addresses.

The school isn't a state school. It is a private school.