My husband received a collection notice on a phone number from California from afni collections. We have lived here in Las Vegas for over 10 yrs. The account was from 5 yrs ago in California on some phone bill. The address they gave him we never had AND we lived in Vegas for 10 yrs. They had my husbands correct social security number. We went in a panic thinking someone was using his social security number. We reported it to all 3 credit companies. Afni decides that this bill of $500 is not his, and sends us a letter stating they investigated it and its not his. It was never on his credit report in the first place from 5 yrs ago. It made us wonder... Could this be the collection agency trying to get money? I typed in the creditors name on Google, and there was a ton of complaints on them after people on phone bills from years ago, that people claim is not there's. Very scary! NOW, 3 months later I get a bill in MY name from the same collection agency stating I owe for a Verizon bill from 10 yrs ago. Yes, at an address we had 10 years ago in California... AND what a coincidence, the bill is close to $500. They looked on public records and noticed when we had a Sprint bill that was sent to us 3 yrs ago by Afni collections, we paid it, so it wouldn't go on our credit... Thats what the agent mentioned to me. I asked the agent... Why after 10 yrs are you coming after me for this amount, when it has not ever been on my credit and I have never received a bill ever for this. How do I get proof or have any record that I have ever owed that amount?? Who would ever have a record of a phone bill from a previous address from 10 YRS ago?? What rights do I have?

That sounds like a scam of some kind! They need to provide verification of the debt owed including payment history from the original creditor. If the debt cannot be verified, they cannot attempt to collect on it... and it is up to them to provide proof that you owe this amount.

You have many rights, but it is difficult to assert them at times because of the hoops with the credit reporting agencies etc.

If it's not on your credit report, and they have supplied no proof, then I would report them to your State's Attorney General.