Midland Credit Management old fingerhut charge off bought and now is listed on all 3 credit agencies in my report as a new account, ripoff San Diego California

I received all 3 credit reports very recently and found that midland credit management reported me to all 3 credit agencies stating that I opened a new account in june of 2005 which I did not do. the 3 credit agencies have different discriptions for the account status. One says: account seriously past due date, the other one says: at least 120 days or more and the 3rd agency listed it as automated account.

one credit agency shows a charge off with fingerhut and the account was closed by the credit grantor. I accept that this one was mine. the balance date on this one was july of 2002 and it was opened on oct, 1999.

At first I thought someone stole my identity but after reading about midland in the ripoff reports I am pretty sure that they bought the old account and they're trying to collect on it, for more money of course.

How do they get away with putting this on my credit report? what is an automated account? Why do all 3 credit report agencies have this and isnt this against the law for them to do this when I havent even had the chance to dispute it or anything? Can they sue me and better yet can I sue them? Thanks for any advice you can offer me.

Susan
kansas city, Missouri
U.S.A.