Find your proof

I was contacted a few days ago by another company that seems to have bought a debt from this ADS company. I was told the amount of the original loan was $450, they emailed me a demand for payment of $650. This other company says the original debt was open sometime between 2006/2009. I said ok well I don't remember this, I am going to dispute this send me a demand for payment. So they did. Here is what I did, you can too. I was able to go back on my bank statements to 12/2008. No deposit in either amount was made To my account from them since 12/2008 which means if it did go in my account it was before. Know the statue of limitations on collecting debts in your state. In mine it's 4-6 years depending on the type of debt  and from the date the loan was to be due or from last recorded payment. In my case if there was a legitimate debt, the time has expired. Send them a letter in writing, return receipt requested, that you want yo know when the original date of the loan was, how much, can they show you a signed document. A lot of these are Zombie debts that companies buy hoping to be able to collect on. If they can't give you proof beyond doubt they really can't do anything. Now I am not saying be a deadbeat debtor..if you know it's yours and you can, pay it, it's the responsible thing to do. I used a popular website to get my first home loan during that time frame, I do on line banking, someone even back then, could have nabbed my info. So bottom line, take a deep breath and learn the facts behind everything. Learn your rights as a consumer.