I'm in Canada (New Brunswick). I have a collections agency hounding me for a small debt (under $500 is the principal).
Thing is, I am 99% certain this debt is past the statute of limitations. It's for an allegedly unreturned cable box, and I have had my phone service with the original creditor for over ten years, so it would have to be from greater than 10 years ago (when I signed up for mobility service with them I specifically asked them and they confirmed I have no outstanding bills, which to me means this must have already been sold to collections at that time).
In any case, the statute for New Brunswick is 6 years and I know for a fact it's not from within the past six years. I cut the cord a long long time ago.
My question is...how do I handle this? Do I ask them to validate the debt in writing? What then? If it is stat barred, does that just mean they can't sue but they can still call and text and mail me constantly? Is there any benefit to just paying it off vs. telling them to pound sand? I've worked hard to rebuild my credit after many years of being a shitheel and tbh I wouldn't even mind paying it off but I want to understand the impact of my options. I'd like to buy a home someday so whichever option does the best for my future mortgage is what I want to go with, even if that means paying off a bill I can legally dodge.
I've never acknowledged the debt when they've called, never made a payment or afaik done anything that "resets the clock."
Submitted October 09, 2018 at 07:18AM by saltoftree https://ift.tt/2E8ljwH
