Experience with Debt Collection Agencies

[Ajaxab]

I got a couple of calls from what appeared to be a debt collection agency this afternoon. They were insisting that I owed $1600 to Citibank. However, none of the information they provided me matched with my information apart from my occupation, last name and student status and I have never owned a Citibank card to my knowledge. The billing addresses, date of birth, middle initial and last four digits of the SS# were all incorrect. They told me I should call Equifax for a credit check, call Citibank and then call them back. I am tempted to blow this off as the person I spoke to kept repeating the same incorrect information to me. Is it worth the effort to try and get the situation rectified? Are there credible places to get a free credit check online? Any help would be appreciated.

[Flasch186]

Free credit reports usually come with an automatic signup to some service, Ive found. You just have to call 24 hours later and cancel the "free" service after youve already gotten the credit report.

[Jon]

Don't give them any additional information until you get the rest of your credit report. You can also demand that they verify the debt to you.

[yabanci]

the first thing you must do is send them a letter right away such as this one: hxxp://www.creditinfocenter.com/forms/sampleletter9.shtml