Urgent update on Collection Agency problem

[kevs]

Okay, my original problem is found HERE (http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80892).

I got off the phone with CarFax today and they said my check to payoff my account hasn't been deposited because it's now in the hands of the Collections Agency.

They also said that this will reflect on my credit report if it isn't resolved. I never put my soc. sec. number anywhere for them to use, so isn't it against the law for them to "find me" and put it on my record?

What else can I do right now? I need to urgent help. Thanks to everyone for your help.

[ray]

Call the collections agency.

[welfareloser]

wtf? you paid it off, but they're not going to take your money. that's great. i'm so sorry they're screwing you... i have nothink helpful to add.

best i can tell you, having beent hreatened with collections repeatedly for mistakes made by others (tons of medical bills, and either the billing agency or my insurance was f***ing something up...) is to KEEP ANNOYING ALL INVOLVED BY PHONE AND MAIL. keep calling carfax, talk to as many different people as you can, and tell tehm you've paid their stupid bill and if they don't want to deposit the check, that's their problem. call the collections agency, tell em you've paid it off with carfax and they're just confused about how to deposit a check (or whatever.) follow up by putting it in a letter to them. be nice, sound like you're willing to work with them, you understand they're trying to do their job, BUT, and just be firm. keep track of the names of people you correspond with. and good luck!

[kevs]

Call the collections agency.

These guys are bullies, but I guess that's their job. I've been doing a little research online and people have wrote in some legal forums that talking on the phone will only dig me further in the hole.

What I need to do is send them a certified letter telling them what MY terms are and that I've off CarFax. From there, we'll see what happens.

Any other advice?

[ShawnLee]

Funny... This entire time I thought it was Kevster.

Anyhow, certified mail. Copy everything you send them. Save everything they send back. Record every phone conversation. Harassment isn't just for the drunk guy in the office, you can use it too. Bother them incessantly. If it shows up on your credit report, fight it immediately.

[BrewMaster]

it wouldn't hurt to get a lawyer involved in this, but that of course costs money.

[Hypnotist]

Looks to me as though your making a best effort to resolve the matter. There are consumer protection laws designed to protect Americans from the well-documented illegal dealings perpetrated on consumers by creditors, collectors, our banking system and the family owned and operated Federal Reserve Bank. Believe me... I do this for a living.

Check your Credit Report IMMEDIATELY for negs

If you see a neg, dispute ASAP claiming the acct is in dispute
(it's ILLEGAL to place any entry about the acct while in dispute)

Officially Dispute the CarFax account in writing
(2 letters... 1 standard & 1 Cert R R rqstd)

Never talk to the collector... they torture kittens & puppies

Negotiate a settement subject to NO Credit Report negs

I do not recommend further phone contact, but if you must, As WL said, be nice but firm on the phone, & as ShawnLee suggested, record all calls

Other good info sources... check here (http://www.justanswer.com//home.asp)

Or consult an attorney

Go gettem!

tha mor ya no tha mor ya no ya dont no

[kevs]

Looks to me as though your making a best effort to resolve the matter. There are consumer protection laws designed to protect Americans from the well-documented illegal dealings perpetrated on consumers by creditors, collectors, our banking system and the family owned and operated Federal Reserve Bank. Believe me... I do this for a living.

Check your Credit Report IMMEDIATELY for negs

If you see a neg, dispute ASAP claiming the acct is in dispute
(it's ILLEGAL to place any entry about the acct while in dispute)

Officially Dispute the CarFax account in writing
(2 letters... 1 standard & 1 Cert R R rqstd)

Never talk to the collector... they torture kittens & puppies

Negotiate a settement subject to NO Credit Report negs

I do not recommend further phone contact, but if you must, As WL said, be nice but firm on the phone, & as ShawnLee suggested, record all calls

Other good info sources... check here (http://www.justanswer.com//home.asp)

Or consult an attorney

Go gettem!

tha mor ya no tha mor ya no ya dont no

Thanks for all the tips everyone. This is really helpful and encouraging to me. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and willingness to help.

Yes, I am definitely making diligent effort to settle this and am not trying to avoid it in anyway, but I am not willing to pay more than I really do owe.

Regarding my credit report, as of this past Friday, nothing was on my report. I only know this because my employer ran a credit/background/criminal check and everything came out clean. *sigh* on that one.

BTW, what's a Certified R&R? I will definitely be handling everything by mail. My recent research has turned up with many people saying never talk to the creditors b/c that doesn't get you anywhere whereas mail and documented proof are always the best way to go.

I've got the terms and conditions of the contract, and I feel like it's got some loopholes, like it not saying HOW a contract will terminate and actions taken.

Plus, I never received a balance due letter, just a "you're gonna go to collections if you don't call" letter, in which we did and were already sent to collections.

Thanks for the continued support.

[Hypnotist]

Letters to be sent certified, return receipt requested.

No negs? Good to here! Also good points on their lack of notification. Throw all that back in their face! :puke: Do check out the link I provided earlier. For about 5 bucks, you'll get lots of excellent advice... probably from attorneys or paralegals, and it's FAST.

Good Luck!