hi, i have a charge off from a creditor on my credit report. its not a mistake. i do owe them the money. but now i have been contacted by a collection agency and they are trying to set up a payment plan. i have no objections because i want to pay it off. but does the collection agency have the authority to remove my charge off from the original creditor. or do i have to work it out with the original ceditor. i understand i must get it in writing before i agree to anything. thanks for the advice.
Probably not Good luck!!! Good luck on that too. Debt collectors aren't known for providing receipts or signing agreements with the people they are collecting from.
They are if you withhold payment. If you conduct business over the phone, a debt collector will make ominous, grave-but-vague suggestions of "impending actions" and say things like "Well, I'd really like to help you out, Mr. Debtor, but unfortunately a decision will be made tomorrow." They will balk at putting anything in writing. They will say they won't validate your debt unless you pay something first. Always conduct business with a CA in writing, as the OP suggests. That way, any discussion you have about settling a debt is binding enough; a letter saying "We will accept $500 in settlement of this debt" is, for our purposes, a contract through and through.
