I'm a bit confused about how to go about asking OC to terminate collection authority of assigned CA.
I have a $279 outstanding balance with Cox. Cox still owns the debt. Collection authority is assigned to Credit Management.
Based upon what I've read and been advised in the forums, I'd like to ask Cox to recall the debt and pay directly to the OC.
But - I keep also reading that I shouldn't pay until I have something in writing, and I have a hard time believing Cox will just take my word for it and let me call them back later to make a payment while I wait for something written to arrive.
How does one handle this situation?
Any input/advice greatly appreciated (and needed!)
Thanks 
You only request something in writing if you are asking for a PFD from a ca. (or at least from what I know). If you can pay the debt in full with Cox, simply call them and ask them if they can recall the debt if you pay now. I did this with Comcast/Xfinity. They said they would recall the debt if I paid. I could still log into my account credentials, so I simply made the payment online. I called them back to verify that they would recall the CA. Even if they don't I have the email confirmations from them about paying the debt online. So if the CA ever hit my reports, it would be easy enough to dispute and have it removed with their confirmation of payment acceptance and my bank statement.
Goal Scores: 700 across all three
@BmoreBull wrote:You only request something in writing if you are asking for a PFD from a ca. (or at least from what I know). If you can pay the debt in full with Cox, simply call them and ask them if they can recall the debt if you pay now. I did this with Comcast/Xfinity. They said they would recall the debt if I paid. I could still log into my account credentials, so I simply made the payment online. I called them back to verify that they would recall the CA. Even if they don't I have the email confirmations from them about paying the debt online. So if the CA ever hit my reports, it would be easy enough to dispute and have it removed with their confirmation of payment acceptance and my bank statement.
Thanks! I can PIF. Our situations are a bit different, as the CA is already showing on all my reports 
I wish I'd caught mine in time to keep it from reporting! I moved and didn't get my mail in a timely manner. My fault, for sure.
@bmblbg wrote:Yes, collection account is already reporting to CRAs. Cox has confirmed that it was not sold and is "assigned" but Cox owns the debt. I initially tried PFD with CA and that was refused.
@RobertEG wrote:It is often better to deal directly with the debt collector if removal of a collection is your goal, rather than to pursue the around-the-barn process of first getting the OC to terminate their assignment of collection authoirty before paying, and then paying the OC.
The debt collector, not the OC, controls and reporting of their collection, and obtaining agreement directly from the debt collector is legally binding on the debt collector.
Has the debt collector alreqdy reported their collection to the CRA?
If so, you can offer a PFD to the debt collector, and if they accept, get it deleted.
If they have not reported, contact them and make a pay for NOT reporting offer.
Then your options are to get the OC to recall it in exchange for payment, you just tell them you want to pay them and ask that they cancel the collection in exch for the payment pretty straight forward, a verbal agreement is just as enforcable as a written one, some OCs will give you a confirmation others will not. The other option is to pay it and move to a good will letter campaign asking the CA for a deletion of the paid collection.
