I think that you can. You seem to have the proof that the debt was paid. Send copies of the letters and cancelled checks both to Providian and the CRAs, along with strongly worded letters about how this debt was settled and should not be showing up on your reports this way. I don't think you need any fancy letter ... let the documents do most of the talking. But my question is this -- could it possibly be that yes, they deducted that $920 from the original $18XX, but the balance showing now is the remainer plus whatever bs fees they have tacked on? Maybe they are trying to report a collection on the remainder of the balance, saying that your settlement did not pay the debt in full? I still think that the letters that you have could be proof that they should not be reporting anything else, depending on the wording. peace, delilah
I think that is what happen. I think that Providian is still trying to collect on this debt. BUT, I do have a settlement letter from (Nationwide) - the first collection agency. A new collection agency is now in the picture. I faxed them the settlement letter and they haven't called since. I just got off the phone with Providian - I just got the major run around, bla,bla,bla... give me your information and we will look into it crap! I need the right letter to send to the CRA's.
I can well understand how that could have happened. You see, as we so often tend to believe, there are probably a few good collectors out there who at least make an honest attempt to do things the right way. And as always there are also at least a few bad apples out there. So just for purposes of conversation let us assume that you got turned over to one of the bad ones. Now then, what things might a bad collection agency do? Do you think it's possible that some collection agencies collect money and then fail to tell their customers that they collected the money from the debtor in order to increase their profits? Would you believe that could happen? If not then I must ask you why it is that so many states make collection agencies report the amount of money they hold in their accounts and have not yet paid to their customers and who those customers are? And could you believe that the collection agency you paid never paid Providian so now Providian is after you for the money they never got paid by the collection agency? Good! OK. There isn't any right letter to send to the CRAs. What you need to do is to send Providian a copy of the letter from the first collection agency you paid and see if that won't help you. If it don't then it may be in your best interest to take other actions. Make sense?
Well then I would suggest that you attempt to prove that to Providian and let them go chase the collection agency.
