First I will say I have been harassed by bill collectors a few times for debts mostly not mine but I was just a name my exes would drop 'he will pay it'.
Second, I had one legitimate debt...a water bill in my exes name that came in after we both moved out about the same as we paid the whole year. It was an obvious error, but my ex didn't handle it. I got stuck with it.
My problem was my rental office made me responsible, which I agree I was; it was a 'lein' on the property which all renters would be responsible for.
However, the water company would not talk to me because I was not on the bill. It was for $200, one month in a 2 person apartment with only one person living there 2 weeks of that.
This went on for about 10 years.
In the beginning I screwed myself by trying to work it out with them and calling from various numbers. They recorded all of them...some were just friends homes.
I started getting calls to third parties with them telling me they were looking for "Alkemyst, someone that owes them A LOT of money and is refusing to pay" or "warning them of doing business with me as I will not pay'
Anyway this went on and on with me always telling them the only thing this collection could stop was me buying a house, and if that became the case I'd just pay it out.
I finally sent a letter in requesting only written communication, I had copied a local agency which I forget. The calls stopped.
I kept asking for a copy of the bill previously, they swore they didn't have one. Finally years later I got a copy of it and it was recorded in error; it was dated about the time these calls started. There was an update, but it came after the account was sold. They misread one of the dials. The collection person sent me it. They said they'd settle for that amount. I told them due to past problems please do not call back this number as it was not mine and I'd be sending out a check that next day.
The next morning at 7:30am that phone rang. I picked up. This is just a paraphrase...
"Hello, we are looking for a certain "ALKEMYST" that is past due; we believe he may be living there. He promised a payment we have not received yet."
I played it out asking "Really we spoke about something like this last night, he mentioned some bill collector stalking him for years about a water bill and he finally resolved it".
"no sir, it is a water bill he owes us several hundred dollars for and has refused to pay it since he felt water should be free. We just need to find out how to send a letter to him, do you have his current address?"
me: "If he said he was going to send you out a check yesterday, why are you calling me about it today? I don't think the post office is even open yet..." meanwhile I grabbed my recorder and said into the phone quickly "ThisCallIsBeingRecordedHangUpIfYouDon'tAgree"
"sir, we know he is not paying....what?"
me:"what?"
"what what?"
me: "ok so you agree....well you are right, I asked you not to call me at this number and it was late yesterday when we talked. I had filled out a check for the full amount but I am now tearing it up. I am going to repeat not to call me again. I have a registered letter showing this and it was also sent to a government agency...I now also have a recorded tape of this conversation which you did not challenge".
Sure enough I bought cars, financed business purchases, etc...
finally I was getting ready to buy a house and called them up. I asked what would it take to settle. Sure enough I was transferred to the same asshat. I told her I knew this debt was wrong, but I figure it has cost her company far more and I felt bad about it so was just sending in the petty $200. I mentioned it would be marked for sexual services from her. (and I did).
My credit report got cleared, the check was recorded too.