RMJ ACQUISITIONS / FINGERHUT I received a bill today from RMJ which said they are collecting a debt I owed to Fingerhut in th amount of $251.00. SYOSSET New York

Lorenda,

RJM are JUNK DEBT BUYERS. They buy old debts of this type for about 1/10th of a penny on the dollar. They have very little, if any information on the actual debtor and are fishing public records in an effort to make a match. You are just lucky enough to have the same or similar name to the actual debtor.

All you need to do is send a debt validation request and clearly dispute this debt. Do not sign anything that goes to any bottomfeeder, just print.

In this request DEMAND to see something you signed to create the alleged debt, as well as a full account history and itemization of all charges.

Also demand proof that they own the debt or have the legal right to collect on it which would include the sale contract and proof of purchase of said debt, as well as a full chain of title back to the original creditor.

Demand that any credit reporting be removed until said debt is validated.

Send this request by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This procedure is very important.

Under federal law, all collections activity must cease until they comply with your request for validation.

Even if this was your debt, it would most likely be past SOL anyway, and be legally uncollectable.

Have fun with these idiots!

RJM Aquisitions purchased very old debt that belonged to the OLD Fingerhut. In 2002, Federated Department Stores owned Fingerhut. They liquidated the portfolio, and the recievables were purchased by a company by the name of CompuCredit. (www.compucredit.com) CompuCredit continued to collect on the recievables. Eventually, they sold the debt to RJM collections.

In the mean time, the company name and customer list was sold and a new Fingerhut, known as Fingerhut Direct Marketing, was started. If you contacted the new company about this debt, they would be in the dark. The new Fingerhut has never contracted with RJM Aquisitions nor have they ever sold accounts to them directly.