What rights do I have?

[Anonymous]

Ok, so out of the blue, I happen to be checking my Transunion CR and found that a new collection from 2006 had been reported in October 2008.  Although I did have an account with the collection agency's client (the water company), I was never ever aware of my account being past due or even worse, sent to collections.  We had moved since 2006, twice, and never had heard or seen any sort of past due notices or warning notices, so I thought I ought to call the collection agency's number and find out what the deal was.  I was told by a very abrupt collections agent "This is a legitimate collection and you owe $207.00).  I said wait a minute, how come I did not even know that I had a balance or was ever warned of possible collection attempts.  I have worked very hard to improve my credit rating over the last ten years, so you could imagine how horrified I was at seeing this mark.  The collection agent responded by saying "We sent out several notices and proceeded to read off the address I live at".  I said there must be some mistake.  Neither my wife nor myself have received communication of any kind from either the original utility company nor your collection company"  The collections agent continued to argue with me and I finally caved and just paid the collection.  I feel that I was ripped off completely as I was never aware of oweing a balance to the original water company when we sold our house nor was I aware of possible collections for this account.  When I asked the collection agency to please remove this mark upon receipt of my payment I was practically laughed at.  Does anyone have any suggestions for recourse as this has been quite a dissapointment after all the work my wife and I have done.

[Junejer]

There's not much incentive for them to remove the negative mark, as you have already paid it.

The cardinal rule here on these forums is never to talk to a CA over the phone. Do everything in writing. You learned first hand why you don't talk to a CA. Most are rude jerks, who will say anything to get you to "cave".

If anything like this ever comes up again, you need to send a full media DV to the CA. When did you make the payment and how? Is it too late to put a stop payment on the check (if paid by check)?

[Anonymous]

You should've called the water company first! Never call a collection company nor pay without sending dv letter first! Now that you've paid the bill all you can do is send gw letter. What CA was it? Try calling the water company to verify the bill was yours & the original amount owed. If it wasn't yours I'd contact the FTC & AG's office to report the CA & get money back.