About a month ago out of the blue I received an email (to my spam, which I just happened to check that day for something else) from a collections agency stating I owed a creditor a fairly substantial debt. The email included no attachments or proof of any debt or even an account number, just my name, creditors name, a claim number and vague legal threats about how if I didnt pay by X date they would begin litigation.
Having never to my knowledge used this creditor before I ignored it. However, the agency has ramped up contact attempts including a text message threatening to contact my employer or references, automated voicemails, and finally another email today saying that if I dont pay by 05/07 they would begin an “asset investigation“ including contacting my landlord and employer and bank to verify my assets.
Now ill be honest, ive been into some debt trouble in the past with payday loans and credit cards but recently completed a consumer proposal to satisfy all those debts. I went back through my emails, bank transactions dating back 7 years and even found an old Transunion report from around that time frame and not one of them ever mentioned this creditor, nor have I ever received any communication from them in my life. Im aware of this specific creditors purpose and products, and I can say with certainty ive never applied for anything with them.
So, what should I do here? Continue to ignore? Ive read several reddit threads about this particular agency and they seem sketchy at best. While I maintain my innocence, i dont want them contacting anyone I know or calling my workplace. I understand these emails use threatening legal language to bait people into paying, but Im wondering If i should perhaps send a letter by registered mail asking for proof of the alleged debt? I want a clear paper trail of everything and have saved all emails and texts from them.
Sorry for the long winded post, just not sure how to act from this point forward.
Thanks,