I have a collection agency on my back and can't shake them. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to get rid of them? Here's the history: Late 2002: Disputed a bill from the OC for $500+. Instead of explaining what the charge was for, they just kept calling asking for payment. Repeated requests for proof went unanswered, and after 2 months, the bill went in to collection. Early 2003: 1st CA begins collection attempts. This CA called during hours that are not allowed (like before 8AM on a Sunday), and never made any contact with me in writing after I requested that they do. I explained to them that I would not deal with them verbally, and the calls stopped. Late 2003: 2nd CA gets involved. This CA did things the right way...they contacted me in writing and explained the process correctly. I responded with my request for validation within 30 days, and they wrote back saying that all collection activity would stop, and the account would be closed. I thought I was done at this point. Early 2005: 3rd CA tries to collect. Contact is made in writing, and again I respond asking for validation, and point out that the account was already closed by a prior CA. No response. Early 2006: 3rd CA makes an another attempt to collect (this time by phone) even though they never provided validation a year earlier. They are informed that they are not allowed to contact me because they didn't provide validation as requested. About a week later I receive a letter simply stating that it is validation of the debt and that I am to contact them to arrange payment. The letter contained no mini miranda warning. I replied telling the CA that they are to cease contacting me by phone and that the only acceptable contact would be in writing to inform me that collection would stop and the account closed. 45 days after that letter went out I received another letter, again claiming it is validation the debt, but this time with a digital reproduction of the last statement I received from the OC...No documentation to support the debt, just the same piece of paper that started this in the first place. I was about to send a reply similar to the last informing them that they still have not provided validation, and that they are to stop contacting me. How can I stop this, and do I have this CA on any violations if I decide to sue? Any help would be appreciated...I want this to go away. Thanks
Is this a CC account? If so is it one that you had opened with the OC, and your were disputing within 60 days of the statement showing the disputed charges? Is this some other type of account (not a revolving account) with an OC that you had done business with? Or was this an account that you had not opened with the OC, where the OC nonetheless sent you a bill for products or services you never ordered?
It was an account of mine (cell phone), and it was paid in full (no early termination of the contract). I did not owe the money they were asking for
Do you have anything documenting in writing that the account was closed and terminated, paid in full, at the time you claim? Final statement, cancelled check for amount of final statement, statement showing 0 balance, etc? Do you have anything documenting that you disputed with the OC when you received your first bill from them for amounts beyond what you owed? Dispute letter to OC? Do you have anything documenting in writing that you disputed with any of the CAs, such as a dispute letter, preferrably send CRRR, and sent within 30 days of their first letter?
