Hi
I see it says "You admit to the debt by either a) pay up or agree to pay the debt"
So if I am just starting out this journey, what is the best thing to do? Just say that I cannot afford it, that I am not paying it? If I say that right away, will they bring me to court?

I doubt she is even licensed to collect in Ontario. Next time if she calls, you can demand her to give out her license number for Ontario, if she doesn't comply tell her you'll report her to Consumer Protection.

But the best way to deal with it is just to ignore her AT ALL. After a while she'll just give up.

Thanks for the help. If she keeps calling again, I will need expert help.

...and No I did not admit to anything.

I said What Zellers account? I checked my credit report and there is no such outstanding balance.

Rep: well you still have to pay it even though it is not on your report.

Me: I am driving now, call me some other time.

Ps. they don't have my current address.

Ignore it or demand they stop contacting you by phone via a registered letter. They can't do anything to you given that this is Stats Barred unless you admit to the debt. You admit to the debt by either a) pay up or agree to pay the debt ; or b) you acknowledge in writing that this debt is yours and owed by you, either directly or through co-sign. If you do any of the above, the Statute of Limitations is restarted regardless of when the original Stat period began. So, IMO, ignore them. If they try to take you to court, your defense (and you DO have to file because they'd hope that you'd ignore it and they'd get a default judgment) would be that the debt is Stat Barred. It will be thrown out because its Stats Barred.

So, ignore them, or send them a registered letter demanding they cease and desist from contacting you - that this debt is not yours, and if you continue to receive calls, you will take appropriate legal action. We've got some amazing people on here you could advise you of your legal rights when you are being harassed by a C/A for a Stats Barred debt.

they keep calling, well once a day...

now her message is "I do need to hear back from you before the end of the day.."

KEEP IGNORING???

Wendy,

This is a stats bared debt. Feel free to tell those vultures to go and play around the highway. You are no longer legally obligated to pay this account, and you are correct, it can't be reported on either your Equifax or TransUnion credit reports anymore.

Good luck with them!

O.C.

moved to Ontario 10 years ago...
JUST got a phone call last Friday from ARO (British Columbia) stating that I owe a Zellers account from 1999.

She said "is this _________?"
I responded "who is this?"
Rep: "I'm calling from British Columbia on behalf of ...blah blah..."
(since I had nothing to hide, I said YES)
Rep: well you owe a Zellers account $2200, how are you going to pay this?
Me: Well I'm driving now, call me back...

Question: can they resubmit to Equifax? I have been good and my credit rating has been good for the last 3 years. I've been offered all sorts of GOLD credit cards.

Should I be worried? Ignore?