When I called the local EMS about a collection account the girl that I spoke to said that if I paid the account she would let the collection agency know that the debt was no longer verifiable and to please remove it from my credit report. I called today, a week later, after my checks cleared. She transferred me to her supervisor and he said that they reported it paid in full, but it would not come off. I asked him why his employee would lie like that in the first place. He said she never told me that. I sent her a letter with the checks recapping our conversation. I said why would I recap a conversation that never existed?? What in the heck am I supposed to do now?? The CA never even sent me a letter stating that my account had been turned over to them, so I didn't even have the 30 days to dispute. In fact, my insurance company paid off 80% of the balance after it had already gone on my credit report. So the amount that it went to collection for isn't even correct. I am so mad I can't see straight.
This is exactly why you should never make verbal agreements with collection agencies. You needed to get that agreement in writing before you sent them a check. As for what to do now, you're essentially finished with the collection agency -- they have their money, they've made a 50% commission (at least) on the deal, and they don't want to hear from you again. I'm with Martysgirl... try to dispute with the CRAs. Maybe the collection agency will tire of verifying the tradeline eventually. There is one other approach you could use but no guarantees -- although I've had some success doing this with two original creditors (though never with a collection agency) -- and that is, I used a modified creditwrench letter which demanded that they do several specific legal things regarding the tradelines they reported. If they elected not to do those things, I said in the letter that they were obligated to remove the tradelines -- which in my case they did. Since my letter was based largely on Bill Bauer's teachings, I'll refer you to him (ceo@creditwrench.com). Tell him you'd like to try the tactic Doc used with fully-paid creditors. Doc
Psychdoc, I was talking about he original creditor. I have never had any dealings with the collection agency. Like I said, they never notified me that the account came to their collection agency. They simply reported it right away.
argh, I'm sorry, I misread... in my ignorance, I thought EMS was a collection agency or some such. Anyway, I had great luck with two different original creditors with very late-pay tradelines but whose accounts were completely paid in full -- MBNA and PHEAA (a student loan provider). Doc
Last night I talked to my mother-in-law who has been in retail for 30 years. She said that when she would pull credit reports to approve people for a department store card at the counter, if there were medical collection accounts on the report, they were not allowed to use that against the person who was applying for the credit card since medical bills are unavoidable and unplanned.
Some TV program had a trial about somebody trying to do a BK for MAJOR medical bills, the creditors refused to accept the BK...the judge said something like "YOU WILL ACCEPT THIS MEDICAL BK OR YOU WILL BE IN CONTEMPT OF COURT, AND MAY GO TO JAIL."
Hey Doc, I am having a similar problem with MBNA. Are you at liberty to disclose your tactics with them? I sure would appreciate it. Thanks!
I disagree with Psycdoc because I tried what he suggested and it did not work. The CRA's only write to the Collection agency who will verify it because that is the easiest thing for them to do. Basically no effort on their part. They will not go to the creditor just because that is who you dealt with. The CA is who had the account so that is who the CRA's will go to. I was stupid enough to believe that I could request the CRA's go to the original creditor rather than the CA. I think they are still laughing at me. What I did is to send a detailed Lizardking type validation letter to the CA. That requires effort on their part. But you have to ask detailed info - don't just tell them to prove the debt. They will only send you a computer printout if you do. Because a validation requires work on their part, it is easier to delete than to put in any effort. That is what I finally did. I got no reply from the CA but they did delete. I almost always agree with the doc, but not this time. Having gone through this same problem for nine months before having it resolved, I know what worked for me. By the way doc, does the hometown team have any chance in the Swamp this weekend? My youngest is a Gator fan. You try to raise them right and they end up Gator fans.
You didn't get it in writing -Big Mistake! Why did they lie/They will tell you anything to get the money!
If they reported an amount you didn't owe they are reporting false Info. Dispute it as not mine> BTW who is E M S ?
