<prompt> Human: This started about a year ago, and after verifying with ATT that they dont have any record of me as a customer, and after telling the collectors many, many times over many daily phone calls that they need to verify this alleged debt and need to stop calling me, they actually went away. Nothing was on my credit report.But now, a new debt collector showed up. They immediately put it on my credit report, all 3 bureaus. What should I do? The online dispute for the bureaus is a sham, they take all my personal information and then tell me I cant use the online disputes and need to request reports by mail first.I am very annoyed, and I am in the middle of an intense academic program plus work, so have little time or inclination to wade through bureaucracy to fix something thats not my fault.For that reason Im thinking of finding a cheapish lawyer. Good idea, or theres a simpler way?  <response>: Just mail in your disputes. And if you got an initial notice from a debt collector in the past 30 days write back and request they validate the debt. 