How to Stop Zombie Debt

Zombie debt can come back to haunt you. It's a debt that you may or may not have defaulted on in the distant past. Debt collection companies buy these old debts for pennies on the dollar and then harass you, trying to make you pay--raising this debt from the dead. In many cases, though, you are no longer required to pay this debt--it may have been debt due to identity theft, have been cleared through a bankruptcy or have passed the statute of limitations. Take care when dealing with zombie debt collectors, as working with them could potentially harm your credit score.

Instructions

1

Ask for the debt collector's address. You shouldn't try to negotiate with zombie debt collectors on the phone. If you get a collector calling about a debt that you don't remember or a debt that you're not sure you really owe, simply ask the caller for the company's physical address. You want to deal with them in writing.

2

Send a verification request. In order to be valid, the debt collector must send you information to verify that the debt is yours, including information about when you incurred the debt and where the debt came from. Do this through registered mail, so that you can verify that the company received your request. In this letter, do not acknowledge that you owe the debt.

3

Check the statute of limitations. While it varies by state, the statute of limitations for most states is seven years. If the collector is trying to collect a debt older than this, paying even a part of it is not in your best interest because it will show up on your credit report.

4

Negotiate with the company if the debt is legitimate. If the debt is indeed yours and the statute of limitations has not yet passed, you may want to negotiate with the company to pay less than the amount owed. If you feel nervous about this, you can get a lawyer involved in the negotiation process.

5

Send the collection agency a cease and desist letter. If the company is harassing you about debt that is not yours, send the company a letter requesting them to stop contacting you. Do this with registered mail. If they contact you again after you've sent this letter, you can take legal action against them.