Rascal12 Asked August 2021
Debt collection involving CBE Group. Has anyone else run into this?
Follow
Share
We just received a call for my aunt from CBE Group. She is in a nursing home, and I am her DPOA. I have no idea why they would be calling since she has no debt. She sold her condo which had no mortgage remaining, and her car was sold and the loan paid off. I closed her credit card, and the small credit balance was paid back to her in a check. That is all she has, aside a from her current expenses at the nursing home which are paid upon receipt. I have received no notices from any entity claiming she owes a debt. Has anyone else run into this?
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
23 Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Popular Questions
- I'm afraid my sister is trying to steal all of my mom’s money by being on joint accounts with her. What can I do to protect my mom?
- What is the reasonable amount for a child to receive as payment for caring for their elderly parent?
- POA has denied me access to my mother's room at the nursing center. Can this be legal?
Related Questions
Ask a Question
Internet search on "CBE Group telephone phishing scam" turns up several hits.
If you decide to respond, I think you should look up the published phone number for CBE Group yourself, instead of returning calls to an unverified number in caller ID or left on a voice mail. Tell them you want the information in writing, by US Mail.
I received a call for Mom. I asked what invoices were involved, they did not have that info because they had bought the debt. But they did know who the debt was with so I called that doctor. Turns out they had made an error on the first billing showing the invoices but saying 2 were still pending insurance. This was not true, the billing office had put the bills in the wrong column. I paid the balance on the bill but still owed $30 more dollars. I was never sent a second statement, it was just sent to collections.
What is said may or may not be recorded and used as you've said it. I.e., I've read that some debt collectors record and "alter" the conversation, to alter/modify it so that the individual called appears to have admitted to owing the debt.
I'm not sophisticated enough to know how to record and alter calls, but the articles I've read indicate this can and has been done.
And even if you take notes, which I do, it's hard to take the whole conversation, even in shorthand.
This is the time to document, document, and document, and all in writing.
Hopefully, you monitor your calls. Don't pick up and don't talk to them. If they are legitimate, THEY actually shouldn't even talk to YOU unless you prove your POA, and that's already giving them MORE information than they should have.
There CAN be OLD debts that have fallen through the cracks. But for most debts, there is a 3-year statute of limitations. But sadly, the SoL is only what's called an "affirmative defense", which means it can only used if you end up in court.
The worst thing is if they can catch you inadvertently "confirming the debt", that cancels the SoL time period, and starts the clock ticking from zero-point again.
If they are completely legitimate, you will receive something in the mail and you would then be asking a different set of questions at that point. In the meantime, ignore them and their calls !!!
No agency can touch you for someone else's debt. Ignore them.
As for this being an old debt, there is a statute of limitation on collections. It varies from state to state and can be from 3 to 20 years. It is easy to look up. If they bought the debt as suggested, they will have the information on how it was originally accrued. If they don't its probably a scam.
Never offer any info at all. If they know your phone number and ever had an acct with her, they know where to mail a letter. Hang up.
But Mom only lived with u a yr right? So if its a legit debt, they would have her old ph# and address. Its very easy to see on-line who is living in ur home. It may list Mom and age.
"How Long Can a Debt Collector Pursue an Old Debt? Each state has a law referred to as a statute of limitations that spells out the time period during which a creditor or collector may sue borrowers to collect debts. In most states, they run between four and six years after the last payment was made on the debt.Jun 3, 2021"
In my State of NJ its 6 years.
DO NOT.
If it was IRS you should be able to contact them to see if there is anything outstanding. Maybe she was required to file and never did. IRS will send notice of non-filing of taxes to last known address. After a time, if no response, the IRS will figure out her taxes but of course with only standard/old deduction and personal exemption but nothing else and could have a tax debt based on IRS calculations. If that is the case LO will need to file and would be able to take any other eligible deductions not known to IRS. If over, I believe 3 years she won't be able to get any refund but if owes will owe original debt plus int and penalities.
I now file for mom, she makes just enough that she is required to file a tax return.
I imagine it has to do with the sell of her home.
And thanks also for sharing the other tips on restriction of data and mail.
Firms such as these assume collection in exchange for low percentage commissions after recovering debt that had been allocated as a probable business loss/write off.
One last thing to consider - if you haven’t done so, organize your aunt’s prior tax records and/or try to figure out whether she hired help from tax professionals.