Nov 9, 2015
As was pointed out to you, you never pay a debt until the debt collector validates it after receiving your certified, return receipt letter telling them to do so. And to make matters worse, since you paid so easily, they now have you on the easy marks list and you will be getting a ton more calls looking for you to pay nonexistent or alleged debt.
This is what they are required by law to do:
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php