Help Me Hank: Doubtful debt

This is Judy's front door, she has an apartment in her daughter's home and 24-hour access to the grandkids. And talk about tight knit -- Judy's parents live just 20 miles away!

Judy Wood, consumer
"We're a close family."

Judy takes care of the youngest generation, picking up the grandkids from school, and the oldest, taking her parents out to shop and for dinner.

Judy Wood, consumer
"I try to help them."

So any problem the family is having is also Judy's problem, like the disturbing phone calls that her parents were getting from a debt collector.

Judy Wood, consumer
"It was really upsetting to them."

The voice, pre-recorded, insisted Judy's parents owed $75.07 for a 10-year old phone bill. But even though they had no proof of payment records from so long ago, Judy knew a missed payment was out of character for mom and dad.

Judy Wood, consumer
"When a bill comes in they get right on it and pay it."

So Judy-to-the-Rescue, she tried her best to find details, she surfed the web for info, and found a phone number, but couldn't reach a live operator. And the harassing phone calls continued!

Judy Wood, consumer
"I wasn't able to get any answers."

Running out of options, Judy-to-the-Rescue knew what to do.

Judy Wood, consumer
"Help Me Hank."

We know the law says you don't have to dig through files to prove to a collection agency you don't owe an old bill, they have to prove you do!

So we advised Judy to write the agency a certified letter asking for that proof in writing. In the meantime we found a working number for the collector, and turns out the bill was wrong, and belonged to someone else.

They promised to delete the phone number from their database and not call back again. And Judy-to-the-Rescue takes care of her family again.

Judy Wood, consumer
"My parents have not heard back from them."

(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)