I have a collection agency trying to collect from an electric bill from 1999 can they still do that ?

The statute of limitations may have expired. Do not make any payments, as that will start the running of the clock all over again. Instead, invoke your right to "verify" the debt, and check you state laws for the contract statute of limitations (which is usually around six years). Once you have that info, advise the agency that the money is not owed and they need to fix any false reports they made to credit reporting agencies. Then speak to a neighborhood law office (the kind that handles car wrecks) about your claim under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The juicy part is that these cases include attorneys fees paid by the defendant, and typically the fees are several times larger than the recovery. In other words, they have the kind of ka-ching that gets the attention of contingent fee lawyers.

yes, they can do that.

Yes they can. You see when your bill goes to an agency, it is because that agency has probably contracted out on your bill and paid it. Now, they are trying to get their money back.

If you used the product then you owe them the money. No statute of limitations. Just because the bill was misplaced or you manged to avoid them for 8 years, it doesn't matter the principle is the same, money for services rendered is owed.

As long as the bill remains unpaid, they can try to collect the money from you. Your best bet is to get it paid, since it could disqualify you from a loan you may need in the future.

The CORRECT answer to your situation depends on where the bill was incurred and what circumstances exist such as, did you move from the state where the debt was incurred.

yes. offer $10 a month and pay it off

A collection agency can TRY to collect on a bill as long as they want. However, if the statute of limitations in your state has passed, creditors are not supposed to take any legal action against you. If a creditor tries to sue after the Statute of Limitations has expired, you have an absolute defense and can get the lawsuit dismissed.

The collection agency is a "Junk Debt Buyer". They buy collection accounts that are many years old for pennies on the dollar. They hope that some people are ignorant of the laws, and will collect on a percentage of the accounts.

Statue of Limitations is here: http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/...

Write them and tell them that the Statute of Limitations has expired, and tell them you do not want any further contacts. Send the letter certified, return receipt requested. They should go away until the original creditor decides to sell it to another collection agency. If they continue to try to collect, they are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and you can sue them for $1000.