Credit Card debt question

[rocketsfan85]

I currently have 3 credit cards that are in collections.  Is it possible to deal with the original card issuing companies Capital One and Chase or do I have to deal with a colelction agency?

[JayRizzo]

You gave 2 scenarios:  In Collections and With A Collection Agency.  So, if your account is just "in collections" with the OC, then you can speak directly with them.  On the other hand, if your account has been turned over to a CA, then the OC may or may not discuss the account with you as it has been turned over.  They may provide you with a number to call the CA for further discussion.  In the Wonderful World of Credit (sighhh), we would want to try to catch the account before it's turned over to a CA.  This is where they tack on their additional fees, interest, etc.

[RobertEG]

It depends on what you are trying to do, and who now owns the debt.

When an OC "refers" an account for collection, that is simply a status code entered into the OC account.  A "collection" results when the debt collector reports a CA to the CRA.

Referral by the OC could mean two things.  It could mean that the OC retained ownership of the debt, and the debt collector is merely their collection agent,  Or it could mean that the OC actually sold the debt to the debt collector.

If what you are tyring to do is to pay the debt, then if the OC still owns the debt, you could deal with either the OC or debt collector.  However, if the OC has sold the debt, they thereafter have no authority to deal with issues of payment of the debt.

If what you are trying to do is to get items of information deleted from your CR, if the OC has sold the debt, then your recourse with the OC is to send them a GW letter.