Collection question. Can I dispute?

[Anonymous]

I am about to get a collection on my credit report any day now about a Cingular account. They claim that I owe them $120.34 from 2005, they told me about this May, 2 2007 (when I tried to add another line to my family plan) and I am trying to gather proof of payment, etc. One of the problems is that the account number they say I have a balance on doesn't match any of the 2 accounts I've had with them. The address, name, phone numbers do match and so I requested a reprint of the bill. In the mean time, they sent me to collections and I have collectors calling every other day and they told me it’s going to show up on my credit report any day now, which I believe them.

My question is: Can I dispute this collection when it shows up on my credit report? I am sure I owe them nothing. I pay my bills on time every month and there is no way I could have missed a payment. Another question I have is: Who can I file complaints with against Cingular? I know I can file with BBB but who else? Thanks!

[JuliaPR]

You can also post a complaint on ripoffreport.com and yes, you have the right to dispute with the CRA (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union) and they'll investigate it for you.

[Anonymous]

Have them send you a Debt Validation,  this is within your rights but do it in writing.  

Yes once it appears on your credit report you can dispute.

Find out the date of delinquency they claim.   Then go to your back and have them pull up all your transctions to prove that you've paid them.   Once you proved it they have to take it off.

[Anonymous]

I had a typo,  " go to your bank"   not back.   sorry.

[Tuscani]

Try and work out something so the collection doesn't get placed on your report.. saves you the trouble of getting it removed.

[Anonymous]

How can I do that? I know I probably can't call them and ask them not to report, or can I? Also, if my credit score is 699, how low can the collection bring it? 50 less points? 100? I have no plans on getting any loans any time in the near future but I'm starting to think its just better caving in and keep my credit clean (I've worked hard to keep it that way). I'll probably fight it to the end anyways.

Thanks everyone.

[Anonymous]

The question is  do you owe the money or don't you?   If you do, than just pay it it's only a hundred and some odd dollars.   If you dont',  have them validate the debt and go to your bank and get the proof you paid it.   If you've paid it than it has to come off, it's the law. 

[Anonymous]

I don't owe them anything. To request the Debt validation I have to write to the collection agency, right? What do I need to say? Can it just be a simple one sentence letter? (I am requesting a Debt validation on this collection.) Sorry for all the questions, I've never had to deal with anything like this before.

Thanks!

[Tuscani]

So why are they saying you do owe them? What proof have they provided?

[Anonymous]

Here is a link **Link to credit repair site removed*** it's a little long winded so you might want to adjust it to your situation.

Boswd --

The link to the above message has been removed as it is in violation of our Terms of Service which prevent the posting of links to sites that promote credit repair.  Please familiarize yourself with our Credit Repair Discussion Guidelines before posting anything further to avoid having your posts edited or removed.

Thanks,

- Barry

Message Edited by Barry on 05-18-2007 10:56 AM