Merchants Credit Guide, Sherman, AT&T Broadband Scam letter to fraudulently collect money for AT&T Broadband Ripoff CHICAGO Illinois

End May 2005 I received a letter from a collection agency "Merchants' Credit Guide Co." saying that they represent "Sherman LLC"AT&T Broadband LLC, and that they had purchased my defaulted account:
ATT & T BROADBAND LLC
# 101030340013770079
$ 150.07

I called MERCHANTS' CREDIT GUIDE CO. and told them that this was the first time that I had ever heard of this debt since I have NEVER used AT&T BROADBAND's services.

MERCHANTS' CREDIT GUIDE CO. told me that the debt goes back to the address where I used to live 1994 - 1998 and I was told that if I agreed to pay half the amount owed, right then and there, the matter could be settled for good.
I unfortunately panicked, gave in and paid them $ 75.03 with my credit card.

After hanging up the phone I went on line and put in a search for the above companies and my suspisions were confirmed! It is a big scam and so many other people have been ripped off.
As a matter of fact, I just found out today that another friend of mine here in San Francisco also fell for this scam and has paid them money too.

Kerstin
San Francisco, California
U.S.A.