Received a 3 Year Old Invoice in the Mail

[Derek Sutton]

Went and got the mail today, in there was an invoice dated Feb 24 2014 (along with a "further action" letter) which I was certain I had paid. It is from a construction company who handled our insurance claim from a June 2013 hail storm, the bill is for the $500 deductible.

I remembered going to the business and paying the deductible in person only because of where I had to go to pay it, not only that but I pay my bills. Anyways my online statements ONLY go back 2 years. Luckily in 2014 we got still got our bank statements mailed to us (for some reason I still have them) and I found the March statement with a $500 cheque made out to the construction company.

A few things about this 1) I hope proof of my cashed check is sufficient since there is no way I will find a receipt 2) Being a three year old invoice, could they even "do anything"? 3) Who lets an invoice go 3 years without even once trying to contact anyone to get paid and 4) What is the best way to handle this? I'm not above swearing and belittling people.

Also how many other people have they screwed up with who do not have proof of payment?

[Ace]

A copy of a cashed cheque to a company you had no other debts to for the exact amount you owed is iron clad.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by Ace

A copy of a cashed cheque to a company you had no other debts to for the exact amount you owed is iron clad.

He said swearing and belittling. We will need to get more creative than that.

[Tron_fdc]

If you have time go on in with a copy of the cashed cheque and the invoice, and fire away at anyone who listens. Sounds almost like someone is trying to scam you, hoping you don't have proof of payment.

Call Tony Tighe!

Lol.

[ken0042]

I'd call them and tell them you have a bank record of the debt being paid. If they press further there isn't much else they can do, as they only have 2 years to try legal action to enforce the debt.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'd call them and tell them you have a bank record of the debt being paid. If they press further there isn't much else they can do, as they only have 2 years to try legal action to enforce the debt.

More could be said than this if you were writing a paper on the issue but this is pretty much all you need to know.

A creditor has 2 years in Alberta to commence an action from the time they knew or reasonably ought to have known they had a cause to have to sue to recover a debt.

Even if you didn't pay the bill, considering the invoice is almost 3 years old and probably somewhere says on its face payment is due in 30 days, they're out of time.

More importantly, you should scan the late sent bill and the letter demanding payment, and your bank statement (blanking out your other purchases) proving you paid, and shame the company via a facebook post.

I'm joking, of course, this is a clerical error. But if you want to make a point of what happened, I'd scan the documents mentioned and send them to the insurance company and ask if they have had other complaints of this contractor double dipping. Those are the people who approve contractors.

That's kind of mean though.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Send them an invoice for wasting your time. Charge them double what they charged you originally.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Delgar

More could be said than this if you were writing a paper on the issue but this is pretty much all you need to know.

A creditor has 2 years in Alberta to commence an action from the time they knew or reasonably ought to have known they had a cause to have to sue to recover a debt.

As if anyone would start an action over a $500 debt anyway.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

As if anyone would start an action over a $500 debt anyway.

Agreed, and that's a point I didn't cover, however, the bigger issue would be if a credit agency would accept the debt claimed as a R9 for their reporting.

My understanding is that a credit agency typically would not allow something like this to become a R9 but I'm not fully versed on the issue.

[Kjesse]

"R" ratings for those who are interested:

R0: Too new to rate; approved but not used.

R1: Pays (or paid) within 30 days of payment due date or not over one payment past due.

R2: Pays (or paid) in more than 30 days from payment due date, but not more than 60 days, or not more than two payments past due.

R3: Pays (or paid) in more than 60 days from payment due date, but not more than 90 days, or not more than three payments past due.

R4: Pays (or paid) in more than 90 days from payment due date, but not more than 120 days, or four payments past due.

R5: Account is at least 120 days overdue, but is not yet rated "9."

R6: This rating does not exist.

R7: Making regular payments through a special arrangement to settle your debts.

R8: Repossession (voluntary or involuntary return of merchandise).

R9: Bad debt; placed for collection; moved without giving a new address or bankruptcy.

[PepsiFree]

Are you sure it wasn't just a plastic bag?

[Locke]

Oh...you send them a fake Death Certificate every time.

"I'm sorry I couldnt pay you...I've been otherwise pre-occupied. With the whole, 'being dead' thing."

[topfiverecords]

Wonder if they're being slimy and sending these to all of their old accounts hoping some will just send the payment.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Wonder if they're being slimy and sending these to all of their old accounts hoping some will just send the payment.

That's kind of my thought. Or someone new bought the business and is doing the same, either on purpose or accident. If you can you could check to see if the business has changed ownership.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Delgar

More could be said than this if you were writing a paper on the issue but this is pretty much all you need to know.

A creditor has 2 years in Alberta to commence an action from the time they knew or reasonably ought to have known they had a cause to have to sue to recover a debt.

Even if you didn't pay the bill, considering the invoice is almost 3 years old and probably somewhere says on its face payment is due in 30 days, they're out of time.

Nevermind. I thought the two year limit was wrong. But it depends what kind of debt this is. Could it be considered secured debt because it is a contract you have with an insurance company? If so the two years would not apply. I think you have up to ten years to demand on a secured note. But this is the third time I've edited this so obviously I don't know.

I think this kind of debt would have to be granted a judgment before it showed up on your credit report. I don't think it would be an r9....it's not revolving credit. It would likely appear only in the event of a judgement as a judgement and companies sue for under $500 all the time. Costs in small claims are very minimal and you get court costs added on when you win anyway. I've seen so many piddly debts on credit reports...usually utility companies and cell phones.

This is an easy one though. Just ask them if they have billed you for any other amounts ever. When they say no you have proof of what your $500 payment was for.

[GreenLantern]

Sounds like a company on tough times that might be fishing for some extra cash. My Dad had this happen to him once with a lumber yard back when he built houses, they tried issuing him a bill years later with an extra 0 on the end. I can't remember the exact specifics but he had to take them to court and my Dad's lawyer broke the book keeper down on the stand to tears in a TV drama type scene where she started crying and yelled out that they forced her to falsify the invoice. Epic.

[CaptainCrunch]

basically go hammer and a bag of sand and send it to them with a list of instructions on how they can pound every grain up their %%%.

Or

Go down with your bank info and show them that it was paid.

[Canehdianman]

these are all great ideas, but the path of least resistance is to ignore it.

[Angelamc]

My guess would be that its just an accounts receivable oversight/mistake. Your initial payment was missed or applied to another account and now they are trying to clean up their ledger to balance and that is why you received notice. Intended for another account/person. They will get to the bottom of at some point or just write it off when they realize it cost more than 500$ to try and clean up AR from three years ago.