Good news I just felt like hooting about! I just called a collection agency about a recent collection (a few months old) I noticed on my reports for $70. It was an account that was turned over by a local hospital. I wasn't aware of it so I called to inquire about it. I told the rep I knew nothing of the hospital bill and asked if I was the patient on the account. Turns out, it was my 24 year old son. He had in fact made an emergency room visit around the time this bill was created and I was the one that brought him to the hospital. Incidentally, he had no knowledge of the bill, either. I asked him how I was responsible for it since he was not a minor. He said that I had obviously signed paperwork making myself liable and it was therefore my bill. I told him I only signed giving them permission to treat him (something along those lines) and I would like to see the paperwork I signed holding me responsible for this debt. His response was "Mam, actually, that's just too much trouble. If you aren't willing to pay it I'm taking it off your record and the hospital can write it off if they wish. Give it about a month or so." So, is it really that easy? Do I take his word for it and wait to see if it's taken off? Thanks!
In God We Trust, all others bring documentation and cash! I would request a quick documentation, or....send an e-mail or letter recapping your verbal agreement, requesting ackonwledgement. I would also verify on your credit reports that it is removed. I know it's tough, but give them the 30 days to process removal. Yes, sometimes it is that easy!!
Congrats! I had one like that once, a charge which kept being verified many times. I finally got to the right person at the banks' collections department, she gave me the name of the owner of the CA, I contacted him with a specific letter, and he wrote back immediately with the great news he was going to delete it on all three reports.
