I too have been receiving these letters. However by the time I took any of it seriously, they filed a lawsuit and received a default judgement. I was never given a date and time to attend the judgements, but was court paperwork stating they would begin the law suit if I did not reply to their inquiry. The next court paper was the ruling.
What they are doing is and has to be illegal. They are debt buyers acting as Capital One. I advise all who receive letters from the so call Todd R Christensen law firm to take it seriously. Had I done so or would have known the court date and time of the ruling, their case would have been thrown out of court. It is illegal for the debt buyer to sue as the representative of the creditor. In this case, Capital One sold my account, Christensen Law Firm [a.k.a Credit Bureau Collections] well before the Statute of Limitations [2yrs in Ontario]
Since I wasn't wise to obtain a lawyer and attend the court proceedings, the SOB won with a default ruling. now years later, though what they did is considered illegal, I have no other option then to pay the amount they have requested. But not before receiving documentation that all ruling will be omitted once payment is received - and they will add settlement to my nearly 6 year delinquent account.
I am not advocating not paying our overdue bills. it is just that when I was in a position that I could no longer pay, I had lost my job, was heading towards a divorce, and had lost everything. Now 5 years later, I am in a position to pay all my depts. - I just wish I knew then what I know now.
I recommend everyone listen to Mark Silverthorn at
http://www.youtube.com/user/masilverthorn?feature=watch
Not all Collection companies run a shady company, but this so call law firm does.