New Collection Notice :(

[Anonymous]

Great..

Just when I'm sneaking up on the 700's I receive this!

Received a new collection notice from a CA for a water bill at house I rented last year. Guess I forgot to finish paying it off!

Here is what part of the letter says, dated March 13th:

The above account has been assigned to us for collections. The records of the creditor show that the debt is due in full. If paid in full to the office, all collections activities will be stopped.

As required by law you're hereby notified that a negative credit report reflected on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you FAIL TO FULFIL THE TERM OF YOUR CREDIT OBLIGATION. But we will not submit a negative credit report to a credit reporting agency about this credit obligation until the expiration of the time period described above.

Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you would dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof this office will assume the debt is valid.


Does this mean if I pay off the collection right away..... it would not show up on my CR.. at all? I wouldn't be "FAILING" to fulfil the term as stated above..

I searched for this scenario of paying it once you receive the notice but haven't saw it NOT report..

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Most do give you 30 days to pay before reporting.

If it isn't reporting BEFORE you pay, it shouldn't report after you pay. You have a letter to show it they said they wouldn't report if you paid in full.

[Anonymous]

I would call them and make sure they haven't reported it yet.  Then I would pay it.  For a utility bill it's not worth messing up your credit for 7 years.   It's probably not that much money.   I'm speaking from experience.  I have an electric bill on my credit for the past six years because they turned it over to collections before I paid it and they will not remove it.   Just not worth it.

My 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

I've sent payment for this along with a detailed letter highlighting what their original letter said - all certified mail w/receive receipt. I'm saving everything hoping this won't go on my record...... argh . Btw, just hit 700 on at least one account

[christypagano]

I'm sure you'll be fine.  I have always paid within the window and they haven't ever reported except for one time with Portfolio Associates.  I paid them the utility bill and then it reported with a $0 balance. "Paid February 4, reported March 1st".  In addition, it's listed as a credit account, 120 days or more past due, legally paid in full for an agreed upon settled balance, etc. (factoring account).  I have moved a lot, and get collection notices almost everytime even though I gave them every detail to contact me with the last bill.  I'd say of the 6 collections in the past 10 years, only one reported.

[Anonymous]

Because you made payment   they can NOT report.....that letter is like our PFD.

[Anonymous]

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EVO wrote:
Great..

Does this mean if I pay off the collection right away..... it would not show up on my CR.. at all? I wouldn't be "FAILING" to fulfil the term as stated above..

I searched for this scenario of paying it once you receive the notice but haven't saw it NOT report..

Thanks

---

Yes! If this debt is paid within 30 days, it will not be reported to the credit bureaus.

[Anonymous]

EVO,

That is great that you were able to get that settled.  I have been wondering how to handle a similar sitution.  I just got a collections notice from the darn Attorney General's Office for a class for which I registered nearly TWO years ago and never "attended."  It was an on line class.  I tried to drop the class several times on line, but the system would not allow me to.  I could not get in touch with anyone on the phone, so I left a detailed message about withdrawing me from the class. 

I got a bill months later and called to tell them what  I had done AND that the tuition should have been waived since I was a state university employee.  I do not even remember what I was told on the phone.  I would have gone to campus to talk to them, except that the campus is hours away from where I live.

Last week, I heard from the AG office.  I put the letter aside because it was just too much to handle.  Then I figured I might as well put what I have been learning on the forums in place.  I read it in more detail and saw that they gave me only 15 days to reply.  I was already at day 10.  I called the college, explained AGAIN, but of course..... nothing they can do.    So I mailed off a letter to the attorney.  I have no idea of what to expect since I have never done this before.  Already I am debating taking the credit hit if I have to vs. paying nearly $900.00 that I do not have.  They are already talking lawsuit!

In Evo's case, the bill was hers/his.  I guess, one can say this bill is mine too, but it will be an awfully bitter pill to swallow if I have to pay it.  Any suggestions?

Message Edited by RecoveringMyLife on 04-05-2008 06:06 AM

Message Edited by RecoveringMyLife on 04-05-2008 06:08 AM