Paying an old Direct TV Collections with Direct TV

addision · ‎11-14-2019

So today I had a collection pop up on my credit report from ERC for an old direct tv account from 2013, about $80.00 for equipment they say I did not return. I am trying to keep my scores clean and this really pissed me off. I called direct tv to see if they showed an account for me since I had switched to the new "Genie" equipment back then and had service through this year (5-6 years).

They found the old account but shows it was written off in 2014 and they can't get any other info on it. I asked them for the account number and I wrote it down after they assured me there was no way to pay it with them now.

I had a good feeling if I could show a payment accepted by Direct tv for the amount I can get this off my report. Here is what I did...I tried the new ATT/Direct tv automated phone numbers for payment and it couldn't find my account number in the system. So I looked back through old pdf's of my billing statements for an address to send off a check to with the hope they would cash it with my account number written on it. However, I found an even better method.

My old statement listed a method to pay by phone, 800-531-5000. I called that number and entered my 6 year old account number and it found it. It gave me the correct balance, and asked if i wanted to pay it.

I paid it by credit card. I now have the confirmation number and the statement charge on my credit card and I can use this to dispute the account with the CRA.

Yes I could have waited another year for the 7 years for collections, but I am working on a large purchase before that time and this would have screwed me.

For someone with a collections more recent, this could be a great opportunity to keep it off your credit report.

Good Luck!

Remedios · ‎11-14-2019

And when you dispute with CRA, all it will do is update account to reflect it was paid.
Collection will stay, with $0.00 balance and so will entry to by OC.
Also, expect a score drop when it updates and it will update as evident by the fact OC still has all the records, and those records will become available to CA by extension. CA in this case does not even own a debt, they are only collecting on behalf of OC.
So, no...this is really not a great opportunity to keep anything off the reports

You probably complicated this situation even further.

DaveInAZ · ‎11-15-2019

You got me wondering now - I cancelled my DirecTV service by telephone around 2015 and the rep told me my DVR was "outdated" and to just throw it away. Now I'm thinking I should have asked for that in writing. Well, I still live at the same address and they've never sent me any billing for anything. . . .

Anonymous · ‎11-15-2019

@DaveInAZ wrote:
You got me wondering now - I cancelled my DirecTV service by telephone around 2015 and the rep told me my DVR was "outdated" and to just throw it away. Now I'm thinking I should have asked for that in writing. Well, I still live at the same address and they've never sent me any billing for anything. . . .

@DaveInAZ So, you listened to a Direct TV CSR! Hmm ... life was good? Did they get a bench Warrant yet to pick you up for improperly disposing of company property? Nice Dave ... real nice

addision · ‎11-18-2019

"And when you dispute with CRA, all it will do is update account to reflect it was paid.
Collection will stay, with $0.00 balance and so will entry to by OC.
Also, expect a score drop when it updates and it will update as evident by the fact OC still has all the records, and those records will become available to CA by extension. CA in this case does not even own a debt, they are only collecting on behalf of OC.
So, no...this is really not a great opportunity to keep anything off the reports

You probably complicated this situation even further."

Nope,

I disputed it and they have already been removed from both EX and TU. It has never shown on EQ.

So, ya actually it was a great opportunity.

But thanks for the comment anyway.

FireMedic1 · ‎11-19-2019

@Anonymous wrote:
@DaveInAZ wrote:
You got me wondering now - I cancelled my DirecTV service by telephone around 2015 and the rep told me my DVR was "outdated" and to just throw it away. Now I'm thinking I should have asked for that in writing. Well, I still live at the same address and they've never sent me any billing for anything. . . .
@DaveInAZ So, you listened to a Direct TV CSR! Hmm ... life was good? Did they get a bench Warrant yet to pick you up for improperly disposing of company property? Nice Dave ... real nice

"I'll bill you later"