AT&T/Palisades dispute question

[Anonymous]

In 2002 I closed a corporate account with AT&T wireless after some problems with AT&T over the amount to get to a zero balance.  I paid with a check the amount that AT&T and corporate accounts payable decided upon.  HEARD NOTHING until Feb 07 with a collections from Palisades.  Paid the collection.  Is there anything that I can do now?

Talked with AT&T personal and corporate receivables.  They said that they cannot do anything because since the merger they have no access to accounts.  Talked with Palisades who says they cannot do anything because I have already paid the account.  Palisades had tried to collect in 05 but sent information to a PMB box that did not forward mail (I never received).  Palisades indicated that they had been sold the unpaid account from AT&T on June 23, 2005.  HELP!!!  I am not trying to recoup any dollars since I actually paid $231.00 twice.  Just want to get this off of my credit reports!

[SmartCookie]

Palisades are nasty... had to get that out.  Sorry you had to deal with them at all.

Any creditor or collection agency has the ability to remove derogatory information from your file as a gesture of goodwill.  

Even though (and because of the fact you paid twice) you paid this bill, because of the inaccuracies, lack of facts and information from both parties, I would recommend you dispute the information on your CBRs and hope that that will cause a removal.  I would begin with a dispute (thru a paid report only, not the annuals) Palisades as 'not mine' because that debt was one you did not owe.  

Sometimes this is all it takes.  If it does not, send a GW letter.

And if you still are not satisfied, get a consumer affairs lawyer to sue their arses off.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Smart Cookie.  Do you mean to dispute on line or with a letter to the credit bureaus?  And do I outline all of the information that I provided here?  Please be very specific on how to dispute..what information and such.  I have read on this board all of the information but I still do not know how to win a dispute.  I did dispute this once with no avail.  Please give details.   I am very new to this...

[SmartCookie]

Yes, a dispute via online/FAX/letter or phone to each CRA whose report it appears on.  They might not let you re-dispute... do you remember under what reason you did so last?  You can do something called a MOV to the CRA for the original dispute if they will not let you re-dispute.

My personal recommendation to you would be the Suze Orman Plat kit in the products section on this site.  As a bonus, I think it's an automatic 25% off thru the link at the top of that page.  The kit is extremely user friendly for a novice and it will allow you to dispute Experian direcly online, and will generate letters for you to send or fax to Equifax and Transunion.

[Anonymous]

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coachcb wrote:

In 2002 I closed a corporate account with AT&T wireless after some problems with AT&T over the amount to get to a zero balance.  I paid with a check the amount that AT&T and corporate accounts payable decided upon.  HEARD NOTHING until Feb 07 with a collections from Palisades.  Paid the collection.  Is there anything that I can do now?

Talked with AT&T personal and corporate receivables.  They said that they cannot do anything because since the merger they have no access to accounts.  Talked with Palisades who says they cannot do anything because I have already paid the account.  Palisades had tried to collect in 05 but sent information to a PMB box that did not forward mail (I never received).  Palisades indicated that they had been sold the unpaid account from AT&T on June 23, 2005.  HELP!!!  I am not trying to recoup any dollars since I actually paid $231.00 twice.  Just want to get this off of my credit reports!

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First...do you have the original bill on ATT letterhead stating the amount due (the amount that you paid)??

1) if the account was CO by ATT in 2002...that would make your CRTP in 2009......on your CR from TU or EX///look for a drop date reported on Palisades.....If it is past 2009 they might have re-aged.

2)  If ATT sold to the CA the DOFD does not change!!!!

3)  If you have the papers from ATT  OR  copy or proof of payment  to ATT AND copy or proof of payment to Palisades.......first dispute all 3 CRAs....as not mine and see if it drops.

4) With the proof that you paid the same bill 2 times  once to ATT and again to Palisades......notify Palisades that you understand that it was your mistake in paying them BUT you did not owe anything and you want Palisades to refund your money and delete all reference to the account.Give them 10 days to mail your money or you will seek legal help.AND DO IT......also report them to the N.J AG office (they are already being investigated) file a complaint with your AG office and the FTC. www.ftc.gov

You must have proof of both payments to do this!  BUT dispute it any way.

Keep in mind that this was your fault for not checking out Palisades before paying and it will be an upward battle.

Palisades is in trouble with many states and has many complaints sooooo they might delete it if they can keep the money, so use the payment as leverage. With proof you could file a lawsuit & not only collect what you paid but court & attorney fees.

DO NOT TALK TO Palisades on the phone!!!! Everything in writting!  DO NOT sign your name to the letter only TYPE IT!!

[Anonymous]

To dispute through the CBRs, why dispute through a paid report as opposed to the free credit report?

Is the GW letter to the CBRs as a second resort?

So my dispute is that the collect is not mine?

HAPPY DAYS...

I do not have any information from AT&T except a letter of correspondence from corporate trying to settle the final amount owed...with no answer from AT&T.  I have a copy of a check to pay the amount that AT&T still claimed that I owed for $235.18 in 2002.  AT&T does not recognize the account number.  I also have a copy of the check to Palisades for $231.70 to settle the claim in 2007..the first time that I knew it was an issue.

I do not have any bill from AT&T.  It was through corporate.

What does charged off mean?  To a zero balance?  I do not have anything from AT&T that it was resolved to a zero balance.  Just the conversations with my corporate accounts payable person to AT&T's person.  Nothing in writing except the memo that is saying we feel like we are paying the amount.

In review....dispute through the CBRs as not mine.  The BEST way to dispute this is?  I have read here that fax is best...Do you have the lastest fax numbers?

Do I, at the same time, dispute with Palisades with the proof of double payments and ask for refund and delete all reference to accounts.  Thanks.

[SmartCookie]

It's best to dispute from a report that you paid for as the entity only has 30+5 days to respond.  With a free report like the annual one, they get an extra 2 weeks to investigate. 

GW letters go to the OC (original creditor) or CA (collection agency) as a last resort.  Your situation is a little different as you can definitely persue things legally if you choose to.  I touched on that earlier but HappyDays was right on the money and explained it fabulously.

If you have proof of that double payment I would contact Palisades by CMRRR asking for that to be done within 5 days (before you enforce your legal rights) yes.

For the moment though, I would start a dispute.  Online is my preferred method when available, and FAX my second choice.  I'll get you the link to those numbers.

[SmartCookie]

Dispute FAX numbers

EQ 866-233-3777
EX 972-390-3838
TU 610-546-4606

[Anonymous]

ATand T/Palisades update.  I have just moved and found account numbers and telephone number.  ATand T cannot find any record of my name or account.  Have sent dispute letters through Suzy Orman Platnum to TransUnion and Equifax.  Experian will NOT accept online dispute since it was already disputed my me with a reply of updated on July of 06.  Any advise of next move for Experian.  Once disputed is that a dead end to ever dispute again through the CRA?  The date of the ATand T original bill was 7/03 and Transunion has it to be removed on 4/2010.  Noone at ATand T will help over the phone.  Does anyone have an ATand T address to send Goodwill Letter?  Thanks