OLD Electric Bill

by Charles
(Houston, Texas, USA)

I was just sent a letter in the mail regarding a bill I supposedly owed from 1998 and this collection agency is willing to take half of it for payment. I am pretty sure I paid it; but even if I didn't; isn't that too long for them to be harassing me over a $200 electric bill from when I was in college? I called them and disputed the claim - is there a way to get them from contacting me any more? I have no way of proving I paid it - but I highly doubt they have any proof that I didn't after that long.