AFNI Verizon Account from 10 years ago that I never had! Bloomington Illinois

I also received a letter a couple days ago from AFNI claiming that I owe $221.35 from 1997 for Bell Atlantic. They gave me the address where the service was and I wasn't even living there at the time. I moved in the following year. They also gave me my previous phone number which turned out to be my mothers phone number. The rattled off my social security number without even verifying that it was me on the phone. I asked for proof that it was my debt, for example an old phone bill. They said that since it was so old they had nothing and neither did Bell Atlantic. Bell Atlantic became Verizon so how could I have had phone service for another 6 years and still owe them money.

I have nothing on my credit report that is delinquent and I'm not starting now. The woman told me that I should just pay the bill to keep my credit clean. I told her that it wasn't my bill but that didn't matter to her. So I said to her, "Since you tell me the bill is valid, thats all the verification that you have?" She said yes. She claimed that I have been sent bills for years regarding this and I know for a fact that I have received nothing. She argued with me over this. It was like a childish came of back and forth..."Yes you did receive letters....No I didn't recieve any letters", and so on. I pay all of my bills.

I have a service that allows me to check my credit report every month for reasons like this and there has been nothing regarding this bill. I will be sending them a letter but I'm not sure that will do any good. I don't want this on my credit. I have a mortgage and I would like to refinance in the future. Having this on my credit will be bad. I understand that there is a stutute of limitation on debt for 6 years in New York. She claimed that there is no such thing. She said a debt is a debt.

Even though this company can't show me that it is a valid debt, what can I do? The 6 year statute is only on filing a lawsuit to collect the debt. I am afraid to just ignore this. I will send a letter but I have found that in the past companies like this can claim that they never received them.

Kelly
nassau, New York
U.S.A.