Why Is An Attorney's Office Pulling My CR?

[mistborn]

Hi Guys,

 

I pulled my Experian credit report and I saw that a law office has been pulling my credit once a year for the past two years. It's to collect a debt I owe from 2009/2010. How can I stop them from doing this? Is there a way I can find out how much time is left on the SOL on the debt? Also, when I got this debt, I was not a legal resident in the United States but I am now.Can this help in making the validity of this debt slightly illegal? Does this change anything? I also pulled my Equifax credit report but it does not have this information on it. Is this normal?

[CameraSnaps]

Hi Guys,

 

I pulled my Experian credit report and I saw that a law office has been pulling my credit once a year for the past two years. It's to collect a debt I owe from 2009/2010. How can I stop them from doing this? Is there a way I can find out how much time is left on the SOL on the debt? Also, when I got this debt, I was not a legal resident in the United States but I am now.Can this help in making the validity of this debt slightly illegal? Does this change anything? I also pulled my Equifax credit report but it does not have this information on it. Is this normal?

 

I am just curious, if I may ask...how were you able to obtain a loan in the US during the time you weren't a legal resident yet? Did you have a SSN? Is it the same SSN you have now?

If they are 2 different SSN's then you can easily dispute it if they go after you.

 

The best way to find out about the age of the debt and when SOL applies is to request for your full credit report. And yes, it is normal that a certain business/ institution only pull one from the 3 CRAs.

 

How much was your original debt? and what type of debt was it (e.g. credit card)?

[mistborn]

Hi CameraSnaps,

My case is slightly unusual. I was going to a private school as an international student and my parents had issues paying my tuition during the recession. So I was owing the school about 17,000 directly. It was not a loan. On the debt getting referred to collections it increased by 33.5%. I did not have a SSN when I was going to that school, but now I have one. There is no derogatory mark on the two CR I have pulled (EX and EQ) that refers to this debt, so I'm confused as to why they are pulling my CR without actually specifying I owe them a debt on my CR.

[shifter]

They can pull it until the end of time.

 

Good reason to keep it on ice.

[CameraSnaps]

Hi CameraSnaps,

My case is slightly unusual. I was going to a private school as an international student and my parents had issues paying my tuition during the recession. So I was owing the school about 17,000 directly. It was not a loan. On the debt getting referred to collections it increased by 33.5%. I did not have a SSN when I was going to that school, but now I have one. There is no derogatory mark on the two CR I have pulled (EX and EQ) that refers to this debt, so I'm confused as to why they are pulling my CR without actually specifying I owe them a debt on my CR.

 

I wouldn't worry about your credit reports then being affected by the debt. I am assuming they were soft pulls? Maybe they were pulling to "track" you? (Although I don't really know how much information they can see- employment, address, etc). However, I would consult with an immigration or a financial lawyer (just to be safe) about what possible collection steps they can pursue against you since it involves a huge amount of money. That way, just in case they do, you can prepare for it. You can also check on the SOL in your state.

 

And don't say you were not "legal" back then You were legally here on a student visa. This debt will not affect your immigration status too so I wouldn't worry about that aspect also.

 

Goodluck OP!

[JunkBuyersWorstNightmare]

Soft or hard?

[mistborn]

They were hard pulls, at least they were categorized under "requests viewed by others" and so yes, they were both hard pulls.SOL in my state is 4 years. So by now, the SOL has expired because it's been 6 years since I stopped going going to that school. I also believe they were trying to track me. From what I have read on the CB forums, they may have not put it in collections because they don't believe I have the means to pay it yet and they are just waiting till I have the means. Also if they have a permissible reason, will putting it on ice do anything? They will still be able to pull it when they want right?

[breeze]

I would send them a validation letter, ask why they feel they have the right to continue to put inquiries on your report. It's called "poisoning" your report, and I believe there is an FTC statement or letter regarding this as continued collection activity if they cannot validate. The fact that the debt is beyond the SOL limits their right to do many things in their attempts to collect.

 

Check and see if they are full service law firm, a collection agency or a junk debt buyer.

[mistborn]

Thank you for your help guys!

[JunkBuyersWorstNightmare]

I would send them a validation letter, ask why they feel they have the right to continue to put inquiries on your report. It's called "poisoning" your report, and I believe there is an FTC statement or letter regarding this as continued collection activity if they cannot validate. The fact that the debt is beyond the SOL limits their right to do many things in their attempts to collect.

 

Check and see if they are full service law firm, a collection agency or a junk debt buyer.

 

+100.