<prompt> Human: MODS: I dont think Im violating rule 4, but if I am, please let me know and Ill revise.I literally just got off the phone with a debt collector who called me at work.She wanted to set up a payment plan for unpaid medical bills spanning back three years. Right away, my Spidey Senses are tingling. My medical insurance is fantastic. What one doesnt cover, the other one does. I told her as such, and she goes over payments and adjustments from 2013. Even named an insurance carrier that I had at one point, but its a popular carrier, so that doesnt mean much.Im still not convinced, and I asked for validation of the debt, which was the key phrase. She said thats fine, but she still needed to set up a payment plan for the 3k that was owed.She rattled off an address Ive never lived at-and told her as such. It was then the debt collector started to sound unsure of herself, something I never thought Id experience.Um, let me verify some information. Is your middle initial M, as in Mary?Nope.Whats your date of birth?I gave it to her and she said, Oh my gosh, I dont have the right person, please accept my apologies.I told her it wasnt a problem, Im glad we got it sorted out, and wished her a Merry Christmas.This is why you always, ALWAYS, ask to validate the debt. Had I not asked for validation, I couldve paid 3,000 for someone elses debt.  <response>: Even without the knowledge of needing to ask for validation, you NEVER EVER setup a payment to someone on the phone even if you know you owe it.Theyll drain your bank account and leave you broke, then say all that money didnt even pay for fees much less the debt, and not a single judge could do anything about this.If you pay, you pay by physical cashiers check only, and only once you have written letter that X amount settles X debt in full. 