I have never gone through a collection process so please bear with me. A year ago I underwent treatment at a hospital, I had insurance and whatnot. I get a letter from my insurance at my college address about 6 months months ago saying that they have paid their portion and showed what I owed, though it was not a bill. I never did receive a bill from the hospital because, as it turns out later, they had been sending it to my old home address which I had lived in years ago. Anyways, the other day I recieved a letter from a collection agency called CBCS saying the following: "you past due account has been placed with this office for payment." it goes on to say: "Unless you dispute the validity of the dept or any portion of it, within 30 days after you recieve this notice, we will assume this debt is valid. If you notify us in writing within 30 days after you recieve this notice, we will obtain and mail to you proof of the debt or a copy of a judgement. Also, upon your written request within 30 days after you recieve this notice, we will give the original creditor's name and address if different from the current creditor. This communication from a debt collector is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose." I first contacted the hospital, where they still have record of my oweing the amount the credit company was asking for. They said that I could still pay them or I could pay the collection agency and that if I did soon, I would avoid having anything on my credit report. I then called the collection agency and explained what I had discussed with the hospital. Of course, they said that I should pay through them to avoid missing the deadline before they essentially hurt my credit score (which kind of makes sense seeing that if I didnt pay them, why would they rush and clear my account before their deadline). It was explained that if I simply paid the collection agency within 30 days, that there would be no negative effects on my credit report. Of course, I had read reports of people saying to make sure I get this in writing and ask for them to delete my trade line, so I asked if I could get a statement. The lady (who's name I did get and documented) told me that they had no way of doing that until they recieve payment.... But, she personally gauranteed me that if I pay now, that no negative effects would incur on my credit report. This of course leaves me with two choices, and I cannot decide what I should do. My only issue is that I do not want to hear from this again and I do not want my credit score to suffer. At the present time I am leaning toward just paying the collection agency and continue to ride there ass every day afterwards to make sure that they delete any record of my account. I was also thinking, (I am pretty sure its illegal though) could I just call back again and record the audio conversation of them promising this to me?? I just dont know how all of this works, and if anyone could exlpain to me exactly what I should do to make sure this doesnt effect my credit report, I would greatly appreciate it!!! Thanks By the way, I reside currently in FL but the bill is from MI
