how to deal with Collection agencies?

Question

Well I never received any letters or calls from them. However the claimed that they sent me one letter to my old address. I never recieved that letter. Now I am willing to pay the balance, however, I do not want this to show on my credit report at all. It really is not my mistake that they never made an effort to contact me. And its also related to changing my address. The collection agency said that my only option is to pay the bill and they can not remove it from my credit report, they will only show it as paid....what can I do??
please please help

Answer 1

Never, ever, ever, ever deal with a collection agency. Fight the debt. If you deal with them even once they'll smell blood and keep coming after you with bogus claims. Write them a letter, tell them that the debt is a mistake and that by the fair debt collection act, they are required by law to stop contacting you.

Tell them in the letter that you are preemtively forwarding the letter to credit agencies and the BBB. Don't allow them to bully you into paying a debt you're not responsible for. They are scoundrels - scum of the earth.

If you think the debt is your responsibility, deal with the original company NOT the debt collector. Write them a letter telling them the mistake and settle with them, then, tell them to call off the collector.

Answer 2

First of all, when you owe someone money, then pay it.
Secondly, when you move, put in a change of address and make sure that the post office is forwarding your mail.
Thirdly, don't deal with the collection agency. Find out who the creditor is, write or call them about the debt, and try to work out a settlement with them if you can't pay it in full.
Unfortunately, once it goes to collections, it will stay on your credit report until the original creditor decides to take it off; that's why it's so important to be responsible with credit. Even if you don't consider it credit, if you were billed (didn't have to pay at the time of services or purchases), then you were extended credit.
That's also why you need to deal with the original creditor directly, because they control what goes on your credit report, not the collection agencies.
If you dispute the debt, then unless the original creditor finds a legitimate reason to release you from the debt totally, then you're stuck with the bad mark until you pay it. Disputing it is only a good thing when you notice something that couldn't possibly be yours.

Answer 3

I hope you got those previous settlement agreements in writing and didn't give the collectors direct access to your bank account. Not all collection agencies will agree to a pay for delete. The collection agency might own the debt or just be working for the bank. Either way, there's no way to force a pay for delete. It is also likely that the collection agency reported the debt to the credit bureau and they are the only ones who can remove it. However, the bank reported you to TeleCheck and a settlement won't help you there. It could be this particular collection agency is just trying to collect more. I suggest you let 'em simmer a couple months and come back offering them 25% for a pay for delete and see what happens.

Answer 4

First of all you need to take personal responsibility for this problem. It is not the fault of the collection agency that you moved. You are responsible for paying your debts regardless of whether or not they sent you a bill.

Once you're ready to face the music you need to do the following.
Get an agreed settlement amount in writing from the collection agency. Send them a Cashiers Check via Certified Mail. Save a copy of all documentation, including the settlement agreement, the Cashiers check and the certified mail receipt in a file for the rest of your life. Some collectors will try to collect again years later, and you'll need all that documentation to 'prove' you've already paid it.

Answer 5

Before worrying about it, check to see if it is even on your credit report. It may not be, and they may just be threatening you. Don't believe that just because the credititor is contacting you that any action has been taken. I researched how creditors work for my job and depending on what collection agency arranged with the company you owe, they may not be there to to do anything but to scare you. Pay the bill if you owe it, but also contact the actual company you owe to see if you can work something out. Especially if it is not your fault. You can believe the company if they tell you it is out of their hands. I wouldn't believe a collection agency.

Answer 6

Yes it is possible to have it removed. Go to www.creditboards.com, to the newbies section and read up. Do not communicate by phone, only by letters so that you have everything in writing. Write them a letter saying that you will pay the balance as long as they agree that after it is paid they will not respond to your dispute through the credit bureau. Make sure you get it in writing that they agreed to this!

Answer 7

you might try writing to the collection agencies disputing the account and explaining you received one bill and paid it immediately. they have to look into it and the collection agency has "x" amount of time to respond.

i would think with all the collections they have, you might get lucky and they won't respond in time -- then it can be removed. it's a longshot that's been known to work, and it will only cost you the time to write the letter and a few stamps.

Answer 8

it may not be on your credit it depends how far past due, i worked for Citi Cards for 3.5 yrs as a bill collector, they usually report every 30 days but they don't start showing negative on your credit until you are 3 to 4 months past due, if you are beyond that point then yes it may be there and the faster you pay the bill the better.

Answer 9

Once the debt has gone to collection it's already on your credit report and cannot be removed.

Just pay the bill.