Collections from Credence Resource Management

[smilemore]

I recently applied for an apartment and was told that I needed to pay off a collection to be approved. I was unaware that I had a collection so went to one of my credit card websites that supply me that information for free. The CA that reported me, only a couple of weeks earlier, was Credence Research Management for a delinquent Cox Communications account. I called the CA and they claimed to have sent me a letter in November of 2021. I did not receive this letter, and would have paid it at this time as I had recently sold my house and have paid down all my debt with plenty to spare. The idea was to be debt free. Now I have a collection on my credit report!! I have never communicated with this CA other than when I called them regarding my credit report.

Since then I have called Cox and believe that it is a valid debt from 2017 for not returning a modem. My question essentially is this: Can a collection agency report without a valid attempt to collect? I have no problem paying what I owe but a collection on my credit report after FINALLY being able to get my finances in place is so disheartening. Not to mention that I can't rent the apartment until this is paid.

[Cowboys4Life]

" My question essentially is this: Can a collection agency report without a valid attempt to collect?"

Yes.  There is no requirement then send you any dunning letter at all prior to reporting the debt to the bureaus.  My guess is that both Cox and the CA sent the letters to your prior address not your forwarding address.  Contact Cox and ask them to recall it so that the account can be disputed as paid to OC and the CA deletes.  In the meantime you will have a paid receipt to show the apartment complex to get the lease approved.