Two years ago I had a high balance with Nextel which forced me to close my account with them and I agreed to pay the balance. I started paying the amount due in monthly payments. I had the payment setup with an automatic bill pay through my bank account. I received one statement telling me that my account was closed and the balance that was owed. Throughout 5 months of paying equal payments I never received another statement with my updated balance. So I decided to stop the automatic withdrawals thinking that I had over paid them. After a month, I received a phone call from Nextel telling me that I owed 93.76. I said that was fine but I wanted a statement showing the previous balance and payments I had already made. I think I spoke to everyone in that call center and finally a supervisor told me that they would send one out. Needless to say, I didn't receive one. Now this is on my credit report. I have been fighting with the CA telling them that I am not paying a balance to someone that cannot prove to me that I owe them this amount. How do I go about stopping this situation? Any suggestions would be great.
Have you sent a validation letter, CMRR, to the CA? Calling them isn't going to give you any evidence for future actions. Get the letter out. Ask for proof that it's your debt and how they arrived at the balance.
I spoke to the CA and they said that they will send me a validation letter stating the balance that is owed to Nextel but it will not show me past payments or how they arrived at the current balance. So should I go ahead and send out a letter to them anyway asking how they arrived at that balance?
You need to request this IN WRITING. There is no record of a phone call. They promise to send something and don't, then they'll say you didn't request it in a timely manner. Mail the letter certified mail, return receipt requested. In the letter, ask them to prove that it's your debt and give an accounting of how they arrived at the balance. I know they said they won't send it, but now you're asking in writing with a paper trail. Also, you may want to include the statement that it is inconvenient for you to take calls at any number, at any time, and that all future contact should be in writing.
