2nd CA trying to collect

I am new here but have been trying to look around not only here but at other sites so please bear with me.

Over a year ago I canceled my account with directv, we moved but had signed up for another year being told that our price would stay the same as it was for the length of the contract. About 4 months later the bill went up, as a result I called and talked with about 5 people about getting it changed back or getting the account canceled. I finally got them to waive the penalty fee and cancel my account, so I thought.

A few months later I got a notice to collect from them and after talking they said it would go to dispute. The dispute company called and I gave them all my information, this was in about November of 2004 I would say. Don't have the details right with me of exact date. Never heard from them again and actually completely forgot about it.

Fast forward to September of this year. I get a call from a collection agency trying to collect $90. I tell them I don't know what they are talking about and to send me it in writing. I get the letter, first the actual bill is only $45 with them pocketing the rest. I send them a letter that I have found asking for proof. Never hear back from them.

Here it is November and I have another collection agency trying to collect my money, only $45 this time as opposed to $90.

Should I send this new agency the same type letter? A different letter telling them to talk to the other two companies? I wish I had thought to do this with the second company towards the first but I can't change that now. I don't know the best course of action and am pretty stumped.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, the same with criticism or any further question I can answer.

Grigser

 

I was reading a couple of things, on this letter http://consumers.creditnet.com/Discussions/showthread.php?s=&postid=282682#post282682 for example.

How do I know that they "dumped" this from CA#1 to CA#2 and that Directv didn't take it back from CA#1 and give it to CA#2?

Should I check to see if there is anything on my credit report before saying they need to remove it or just assume they put it on my credit?

I don't really want to get an atty for this but do I need to threaten this anyway? Should I actually provide a lawyers name making it more than just an idle threat?

Sorry I didn't post this the first time but reading so much of this sometimes makes my head ache and confuses me.