Alright, I promised an update, so here’s how things played out with the Law Offices of Craig S. Sunada. This will probably be my last post on this, but I wanted to share the full experience in case it helps someone else going through the same thing.

Timeline of what happened:

Week 1: Calls started. I ignored them at first because I didn’t recognize the number. They left generic voicemails saying to call back about a “personal matter.”

Week 2: I answered and got the aggressive rep I mentioned before. They wanted immediate payment, wouldn’t give details, and threatened “escalation.” I asked for written validation and they got pushy.

Week 3: I sent my dispute letter via certified mail (cost me about $8 but worth it for proof). I kept it simple – just stated I was disputing the debt, requested validation, and asked them to stop calling until they provided proof.

Week 4 (now): I got their response in the mail yesterday. And here’s the interesting part…

What they sent:

A generic statement with an account number I didn’t recognize

No signed contract or original agreement

No detailed breakdown of charges

Just a basic printout that honestly looked like something anyone could make

The outcome:

I went through everything carefully and here’s what I found:

The account number didn’t match anything in my credit report

The date they claimed the debt originated was over 7 years ago

The amount they were asking for didn’t match any records I could find

I sent a follow-up letter stating that their “validation” was insufficient and that I still disputed the debt. I also mentioned that based on the age, it might be past the statute of limitations in my state.

And guess what? It’s been 5 days now and I haven’t heard a single thing from them. No calls, no letters, nothing. It seems like they moved on once they realized I wasn’t an easy target.

What I learned from this whole mess:

Always request validation in writing – Don’t just do it over the phone. The FDCPA gives you rights, but you need to exercise them properly.

Certified mail is your friend – Having proof of when you sent your dispute is crucial. They can’t claim they never got it.

Don’t pay anything until you see real proof – Paying without verifying can restart the statute of limitations and make a stale debt active again. That’s a huge mistake.

Keep a call log – I wrote down every single call with date, time, and what was said. If they violated the FDCPA, I had evidence ready.

Stay calm on the phone – They’re trained to get a reaction. When I stayed calm and kept repeating “send me validation in writing,” the rep didn’t know what to do.

Check your credit report first – If it’s not on your report, that’s a red flag. For me, this debt didn’t show up anywhere.

Don’t ignore it completely – I almost did, but I’m glad I didn’t. Ignoring doesn’t make it go away and you lose your chance to dispute within that 30-day window.

Would I recommend dealing with this firm?

Honestly, they seemed like they were just trying to collect on old, potentially unverifiable debts and hoping people would pay out of fear. Once I pushed back properly, they backed off. I can’t say for sure if they’re legit or not, but their tactics felt aggressive and designed to pressure people into paying without question.

If you’re dealing with them right now, here’s my advice:

Don’t panic. Easier said than done, I know, but panic is what they’re counting on.

Send that dispute letter ASAP if you’re still within 30 days of first contact.

Don’t give them any bank info, SSN, or personal details over the phone.

If they threaten legal action, remember that anyone can threaten, but it doesn’t mean they’ll actually sue. Especially if they can’t prove the debt.

Know your rights under the FDCPA. There are resources online that explain it in plain English.

One last thing:

I’m not a lawyer, so take all this with a grain of salt. But I did consult with a consumer rights attorney briefly (just a free consult) and they confirmed I did the right thing. If they come back at me, I know I have options.

Thanks again to everyone who commented on my previous posts. Reading your experiences really helped me stay grounded through this. If anyone has more questions about my specific situation or wants to see the letter template I used, feel free to ask. I’m happy to share what worked for me.

Hope this helps someone out there who’s getting those same calls and feeling stressed. You’ve got rights – use them.