Ok, got a parking ticket in the city of Detroit. The ticket was suppose to be handled by the owner of the building I was doing work for and never did. Regardless I looked at my credit report today,(That was crystal clear), and A collection was on there for the $80 parking ticket. So I called the collection company and said "I will pay this today, if you delete if from my report". Of course they said they could not do that only show it was payed. So I called the city of Detroit and they said they signed the dept off to the collection agency, but I could still make payment to them and they would notify the collection agency. How can they do this? How do I pay this and get it off my credit.
The city hasn't sold it to the CA (it's just been transferred for collection) so request that they pull it back from the CA in return for full payment. Don't pay them first and then expect that the CA will stop bugging you. You'll need to confirm that the account has been pulled from collections and they no longer have the file. Once it's back in the hands of the city, then you can pay them directly and get your file closed.
The city claims they have nothing to do with it anymore, yet they said I could make payment to them. I told them that made no sense. I offered to pay them for removal, but they said, all they can do is tell the CA it was payed. Its not up to them to remove it, nor do they have any control over it. BS Please help... My credit is spotless thanks to this board.
Well, then I guess if they won't delete it, then you don't have a whole lot of incentive to pay. Especially if you live in a different city and don't have mutliple tickets, since the likelihood of a warrant or possible impoundment over just one unpaid ticket is slim to none.
If they were willing to accept payment then they probably haven't sold the debt. Have you confirmed that it's just been transferred to a CA for collection? If so, you'll need to get a hold of someone at the supervisor level or higher who actually has the power/understanding to handle your request and pull it back from collections so you can pay them directly. Your average city worker will have no clue how the process works and they'll just tell you there's nothing they can do. Insist to speak with someone in charge and be very nice throughout the process- they don't really have to help you out if they don't want to.
Thanks Josh, I will give that a try. But, just curious if the city takes payment, and says they will inform the collection agency(that is in another state) of payment, how can they say they no longer own the dept, which the city did say. Further how can the collection agency be reporting, if the city excepts my payment. I have finally after years and thousands of dollars cleaned up my credit, and would hate to let a BS $80 ticket mess it up. FYI like I said in my previous post I did try and call the CA and offered to pay for deletion, I even talk to a supervisor, After being pretty much treated like a scum bag over 80bucks I hung up.
Unless you are able to get a pay for delete agreement in writing, paying this debt does nothing do improve your credit. The difference between an "unpaid collection" and a "paid collection" is negligible at best. Eventually, the debt will age off of your credit reports, regardless of whether you pay or not. Besides, who's to say the underlying debt (the ticket) was legitimate in the first place?
If they no longer own the debt, then they wouldn't even be talking to you when you call. They would direct you immediately to the CA. It sounds like the debt's been assigned for collection in your case.
You guys still have not told me how to handle this. 1. How can this collection agency be reporting to the bureaus if the city of Detroit will still accept payment directly. or can they. Should I pay the city? How do I deal with the collection agency? Once again how can the collection agency legally continue to report this if I make payment to the city of Detroit.
1.) Of course the city will take payment if you want to give them money. That doesn't mean the CA can't report the collection- it was handed over to them for collection. 2.) Don't pay the city unless they agree in writing to pull the account back from collections and you can verify that they have. 3.) If you have to deal directly with the CA, negotiate how this will be updated on your credit reports in return for full payment. 4.) Once again, the CA can report the collection as soon as the debt is handed over to them for collection. If it's paid, they should update it to a "Paid collection", but it's just as damaging to your credit scores as an unpaid collection.
First off Josh, you the man. Thanks for everything, I love this site. It has helped me out with my credit so much, that's why I need to nail this BS collection agency. Some more info. When I talked to the City, they told me they had nothing to do with the account anymore and could not pull it back, but could take payment for the ticket and would notify the collection company of payment. How can they do that? The notice from the collection agency (Professional Account Management L.L.C) says make checks payable to the city of Detroit along with their address, and that you can make payment at the city of Detroit's web site. I did notice one little Glitch on the letter from the collection agency they spelled my middle name wrong. Can I use this? I just want to pay this and get it off my credit report, my score has already gone down because of $80.00
What do you think of this? To Whom It May Concern: By cashing this check and accepting payment you agree to a full deletion of all references regarding this account from my credit profile by the City of Detroit and Professional Account Management. This agreement is binding and will be void should you not hold up to your end of the agreement. Furthermore the debt will be deleted from my credit profile at all three credit bureaus. Thank You
Because from what you've told us it sounds like they still own the debt. They haven't sold it, so if you want to pay them they're not going to say no. But like I've said before, that's not a good idea unless you are certain your account has been pulled back from collection. Probably not- that's not really a big deal. Just a small administrative error.
Hmmm...I doubt you'll get the response you want. I think it would be better to reach an agreement in writing before actually sending payment. If you send this check they'll probably cash it, do nothing, and then you'll be on the phone again trying to follow up.
They will simply cash your check--regardless of any "restrictions" you place on it--and then update the account to a PAID COLLECTION on your credit report(s). You will have then wasted $80.00 for zero benefit to yourself, as the PAID COLLECTION notation will do nothing to help your credit score whatsoever. My advice is still to do nothing and DO NOT PAY IT because the damage to your credit rating is already done, and the effect will make less difference as time passes.
