Collection calls are frustrating and sometimes downright frightening. Collection companies call people at home and at work. They may threaten to take legal action against individuals. They can attempt to garnish wages or place liens against property.
Most people dealing with collection efforts want to correct the situation promptly. However, some people may question whether collection efforts may have violated their rights. If a collection company keeps calling about a zombie debt, its conduct may actually violate debt collection rules.
What is zombie debt?
Creditors and collection agents have a limited window of opportunity in which to aggressively collect on valid debts. While the debt may technically persist indefinitely, the option of taking legal action or reporting the debt to the credit bureaus is temporary.
Zombie debts are usually more than seven years old, meaning that they no longer show up on a credit report. They may also fall outside of the statute of limitations for litigation as well, depending on the circumstances.
Zombie debts may be valid debts in some cases, or they may be old bills and debts that a person has actually paid previously. Some companies knowingly attempt to collect on old debts and even paid debts in an attempt to trick consumers.
Those facing collection efforts generally have the right to validate the debt. Those denied information from collection agents and those who determine that the debt is paid or too old for collection efforts may have experienced a violation of fair debt collection practices.
Reviewing what may be an attempt to collect on a zombie debt with a skilled legal team can help consumers make use of their legal protections. Consumer protection laws limit collection activity and allow for litigation after egregious violations of fair debt collection practices.