I. C. System, Just received collection letter from this company addressed to my grandfather who passed away nine years ago!! What should I do? St. Paul Minnesota

Dear Emma,

I used to work for IC System. In fact, I worked for the department that handled Verizon Telephone's accounts. Often time, Verizon will open up some old Bell Atlantic account (one of the old companies that merged to form Verizon). They'll have IC System call and try to collect. At nine years old, they can't sue you or the estate, or credit report it, but they can still try to collect. I'm not saying that's the most polite thing to do, but legally, they have that right.

The best thing you can do is call them and inform them that your grandfather passed away. They will probably ask if you will be paying the bill. Politely say No. Most collectors will simply mark the account holder as deceased and that will end the conversation. They'll close the account. Sometimes we were told to ask for a death certificate. It seems rude, but don't be offended. Sometimes people do feign death to get out of paying their bills. The collectors are just doing their job (remember, Verizon is their client, not you). If you have access to the death certificate, then make a photocopy and send it in to them. Chances are, the conversation won't get to this point though.

If you want to be sure that they don't contact you again, then simply write a letter asking them to cease communication. They must stop writing and calling once they receive it.

At this point, there is no need to hire a lawyer or get rowdy with the collector. If you tell them the account holder is dead and they insist on getting personal, just hang up, send the cease communication letter and go on with your life.

Good Luck, and sorry the business had to bring back your grandfather's name in this way.

Peace,
Kevin, former IC System Collector

Emma, the party is deceased. The creditor can sue the estate of the decedant but has no lawful claim against anyone who was not on the account. If your grandfather's estate went through probate, the creditor would have been required to present his claim at that time or forget about it forever.

Jean, I suspect that there is more to the story about that someone you mentioned. Have her post the whole story. Your version of it makes no sense.

Jean, you have totally misunderstood a power of attorney. The attorney-in-fact may act for the grantor but cannot be compelled to do so. Besides, a power-of-attorney agreement expires immediately upon the death of the grantor.

Emma, toss the collection letter in the trash. If they send any more letters send them back marked "deceased." If they call you on the phone, just say, "He does not live here" and hang up.

P,

Nothing at all to worry about as the SOL has passed. A lawsuit or other action CANNOT be brought LEGALLY. Any action they take can be proven frivolous, and then you can sue them.

Jean,

You are probably confused as to the circumstances that are different from your friends alleged situation. Here's why.

First of all, each state has a SOL on debts, which means when the SOL expires, the debt is NOT still owed as you claimed. It is DEAD. It CANNOT be collected by ANY means after the SOL has expired.

And, just having power of attorney for someone does not make you liable for their debts. There are some cases in which this is true, but it is not an absolute rule. There are many types of POA's. And, each state has different laws on those too.

Notice that the OP lives in FLORIDA, where I also live, NOT in MAINE. FYI..The SOL in Maine is 6 years on all debts except judgements.

If there was no estate assets, there is nothing to get. You are not responsible for the debts of your relatives unless you were on the contract.

Certainly no need to waste the time and money of getting a lawyer in this case.

This debt is past SOL and is UNCOLLECTABLE. I doubt that they could even document it if validation was requested.


JEAN WROTE>>>>>>>>>
"see a lawyer"



"If you don't take this letter to a lawyer, they can very well hold you responsible for this debt, I know someone in the same situation as you, and they put a lien on everything she owned, and eventually tried to reposess her car, which she owned outright.

You definitely need to go and see a lawyer.
Just because a debt is 9 years old, doesn't mean the money is still not owed.

If you had power of attorney for him, you definitely owe the money, and they will do everything that they can to collect it.
If not, you don't owe, and before this blows up into more, you need to nip it in the bud by contacting a lawyer".

Jean - Lewiston, Maine
U.S.A.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P,

Nothing at all to worry about as the SOL has passed. A lawsuit or other action CANNOT be brought LEGALLY. Any action they take can be proven frivolous, and then you can sue them.

Jean,

You are probably confused as to the circumstances that are different from your friends alleged situation. Here's why.

First of all, each state has a SOL on debts, which means when the SOL expires, the debt is NOT still owed as you claimed. It is DEAD. It CANNOT be collected by ANY means after the SOL has expired.

And, just having power of attorney for someone does not make you liable for their debts. There are some cases in which this is true, but it is not an absolute rule. There are many types of POA's. And, each state has different laws on those too.

Notice that the OP lives in FLORIDA, where I also live, NOT in MAINE. FYI..The SOL in Maine is 6 years on all debts except judgements.

If there was no estate assets, there is nothing to get. You are not responsible for the debts of your relatives unless you were on the contract.

Certainly no need to waste the time and money of getting a lawyer in this case.

This debt is past SOL and is UNCOLLECTABLE. I doubt that they could even document it if validation was requested.


JEAN WROTE>>>>>>>>>
"see a lawyer"



"If you don't take this letter to a lawyer, they can very well hold you responsible for this debt, I know someone in the same situation as you, and they put a lien on everything she owned, and eventually tried to reposess her car, which she owned outright.

You definitely need to go and see a lawyer.
Just because a debt is 9 years old, doesn't mean the money is still not owed.

If you had power of attorney for him, you definitely owe the money, and they will do everything that they can to collect it.
If not, you don't owe, and before this blows up into more, you need to nip it in the bud by contacting a lawyer".

Jean - Lewiston, Maine
U.S.A.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P,

Nothing at all to worry about as the SOL has passed. A lawsuit or other action CANNOT be brought LEGALLY. Any action they take can be proven frivolous, and then you can sue them.

Jean,

You are probably confused as to the circumstances that are different from your friends alleged situation. Here's why.

First of all, each state has a SOL on debts, which means when the SOL expires, the debt is NOT still owed as you claimed. It is DEAD. It CANNOT be collected by ANY means after the SOL has expired.

And, just having power of attorney for someone does not make you liable for their debts. There are some cases in which this is true, but it is not an absolute rule. There are many types of POA's. And, each state has different laws on those too.

Notice that the OP lives in FLORIDA, where I also live, NOT in MAINE. FYI..The SOL in Maine is 6 years on all debts except judgements.

If there was no estate assets, there is nothing to get. You are not responsible for the debts of your relatives unless you were on the contract.

Certainly no need to waste the time and money of getting a lawyer in this case.

This debt is past SOL and is UNCOLLECTABLE. I doubt that they could even document it if validation was requested.


JEAN WROTE>>>>>>>>>
"see a lawyer"



"If you don't take this letter to a lawyer, they can very well hold you responsible for this debt, I know someone in the same situation as you, and they put a lien on everything she owned, and eventually tried to reposess her car, which she owned outright.

You definitely need to go and see a lawyer.
Just because a debt is 9 years old, doesn't mean the money is still not owed.

If you had power of attorney for him, you definitely owe the money, and they will do everything that they can to collect it.
If not, you don't owe, and before this blows up into more, you need to nip it in the bud by contacting a lawyer".

Jean - Lewiston, Maine
U.S.A.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P,

Nothing at all to worry about as the SOL has passed. A lawsuit or other action CANNOT be brought LEGALLY. Any action they take can be proven frivolous, and then you can sue them.

Jean,

You are probably confused as to the circumstances that are different from your friends alleged situation. Here's why.

First of all, each state has a SOL on debts, which means when the SOL expires, the debt is NOT still owed as you claimed. It is DEAD. It CANNOT be collected by ANY means after the SOL has expired.

And, just having power of attorney for someone does not make you liable for their debts. There are some cases in which this is true, but it is not an absolute rule. There are many types of POA's. And, each state has different laws on those too.

Notice that the OP lives in FLORIDA, where I also live, NOT in MAINE. FYI..The SOL in Maine is 6 years on all debts except judgements.

If there was no estate assets, there is nothing to get. You are not responsible for the debts of your relatives unless you were on the contract.

Certainly no need to waste the time and money of getting a lawyer in this case.

This debt is past SOL and is UNCOLLECTABLE. I doubt that they could even document it if validation was requested.


JEAN WROTE>>>>>>>>>
"see a lawyer"



"If you don't take this letter to a lawyer, they can very well hold you responsible for this debt, I know someone in the same situation as you, and they put a lien on everything she owned, and eventually tried to reposess her car, which she owned outright.

You definitely need to go and see a lawyer.
Just because a debt is 9 years old, doesn't mean the money is still not owed.

If you had power of attorney for him, you definitely owe the money, and they will do everything that they can to collect it.
If not, you don't owe, and before this blows up into more, you need to nip it in the bud by contacting a lawyer".

Jean - Lewiston, Maine
U.S.A.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you don't take this letter to a lawyer, they can very well hold you responsible for this debt, I know someone in the same situation as you, and they put a lien on everything she owned, and eventually tried to reposess her car, which she owned outright.

You definitely need to go and see a lawyer.
Just because a debt is 9 years old, doesn't mean the money is still not owed.

If you had power of attorney for him, you definitely owe the money, and they will do everything that they can to collect it.
If not, you don't owe, and before this blows up into more, you need to nip it in the bud by contacting a lawyer.

If there were any assets to be had, after this time is there that concern?

Emma,

This is just a junk debt buyer fishing for information. That debt is obviously past the legal SOL for collections.

And, unless you were listed on that account, you are in no way responsible for it anyway. Actually, you should not have even opened the letter as it was not in your name, right?

DO NOT contact them in any way.

And, DO NOT open any mail in his name, simply mark it "DECEASED" and drop it in a big blue mailbox.