<prompt> Human: I had a bill from my internet company for under 200 that went into collections that I just discovered is no longer on any of my 3 credit reports. The bill was only from 3 years ago.Is this something that happens or will it reappear? Theyve tried contacting me onoff Ive ignored - it was already in collections since it went to collections but I havent heard from them in months. My credit score also jumped recently, too.  <response>: They might have sold it to another debt collector. If you get an initial notice from a new debt collector make sure to write back within 30 days and request they validate the debt. When you do this they have to stop all collection activity -- including placing it on your credit reports -- until theyre able to validate the debt. Also know its your legal right to have debt collector stop calling you. According to the FTC resold debts are validated about 35 of the time, and debt buyers were significantly less likely to report verification of disputed medical, telecommunications, and utility debt PDF pg. 49: 