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I have been working with a collection agency to settle an old utility bill - I called to make a payment & when I asked them how much was my balance they are giving me an amount that is $100 more than what it should be since I've been making payments for a few months now. The lady put me on hold & when she came back to the line she told me there are $100 in finance charges from the OC. I didn't make the payment & called the OC. The OC said they don't add finance charges & they do not see any on my account so now I am 100% skeptical about dealing with CA. The OC said they can't pull the account back...the only thing I can do is stop paying the collection agency & they will refer it back to the OC & then I will be able to make payments directly to them. Of course I do not want the CA to wind up on my CR so how do I go about this?? I went online a few minutes ago & re-registered my account online with the OC, and I am still able to make payments directly to them but where will this leave me with the CA? HELP PLEASE!!!
Should I call the CA back? Should I ignore them? Should I call the CA back....and say what?? Should I start making payments to the OC?
I've worked so hard this year repairing my credit...I don't want this account to ruin it
Did the CA agree not to report if you paid them?
When the OC said refer it back to them, did she mean the CA would send the account back? Meaning no longer collecting on it?
Wow. The OC should know if the CA bought the account or not. If they did, the CA can't send it back as it no longer belongs to the OC.
ETA: I would also get an agreement with the CA for not reporting. You can ask for an itemization of the debt.
That means you have to deal with the CA.
Ask the CA if they will not report to the CRAs if you pay the debt.
How old is the debt?
In the meantime, in dealing with their charges, the FDCPA stipulates that it is a violation for a debt collector to attempt to collect any amount that is either not explicityly authorized in your original account agreement with the OC, or not otherwise permitted by law.
Since they are asserting the additional charges are based on the OC account, I would dig out a copy of your account agreement with the OC, and determine what charges are authorized undr that agreement.