askye, as flea says, that debt is way beyond the statute of limitations in any state. Debt collection companies buy debts for pennies on the dollar and harass people for payment even when the debt is too old.

Clark Howard says to send a drop-dead letter [link] by certified mail, return receipt requested. Do not talk to them, except to say that you do not acknowledge the debt and that the debt is beyond the statute of limitations.

I'm wondering if this is some kind of mistake or if this was some kind of zombie debt of some kind.

I found a sample letter that asks for a lot of info including that the statute of limitations has not expired. I'm going to use that as my basis to send to them.

I wouldn't engage too much with them, askye. They have no right for any information from you, because you do not owe the money.

Flea and Ginger thanks.

I'll send the drop dead letter.

It's a shame there are so many people who hear "you owe us money" and panic. Plus the bill collectors always do things like, "You admit that you owe this money, right? Even if the statute of limitations is past, don't you have a duty to pay your debts?"

I honestly don't know how people can stand to make those calls.

Tomorrow evening, the family Tea is heading off to China for a fortnight. We'll be staying with WB's parents. No great sightseeing plans, this is more about a family catch-up, and a chance for Ryan to meet more of his rellies on his mother's side of the family.

Currently I'm worrying about how Ryan will cope with the flight. It's a long time in the air. It's overnight, so with luck he'll spend most of it asleep, but it's uncharted territory.

BT - how old is Ryan and has he flown before?

BT - how old is Ryan and has he flown before?

He'll be turning three in China. He's flown to Sydney and Canberra before, with mixed results (most notably when he threw up over himself and his daddy just after they put the seatbelt light on for the descent into Canberra).

Most recent trip was Sydney last year, which went smoothly enough but he freaked out when they started the engines.

So you know the tricks about drinking something on takeoff and landing. ... Lessee. When HPF was 2 1/2, we flew 8 hours with an overnight and she woke up in the middle. I'd packed a bag with some "presents" - smallish (not swallowable), individually wrapped things - like bath toys that don't make noise, things to draw with, a new book, a book of photographs - and used about half a roll of tape and a nutty quantity of wrapping paper on each. The upshot was it took her about 20-30 minutes to open each present, another 20 to play with it, then on to the next "present." Eventually, she stuck with the book and then fell back to sleep. We re-wrapped the presents for the return trip and did the whole thing again. Also, if you can get your hands on a kiddie etch-a-sketch, those are gold on a flight.

Oh, I like the wrapping paper trick. We may have to try that.