Collection ???

[mbj81380]

I'm hoping that someone can help me with this.  I just got a collection notice regarding 2 overdue movies from Hollywood Video.  I vaguely remember this from 2009, but I'm pretty sure that Hollywood video went out of business right after I rented these movies!  I'm almost positive that's why I either kept them or returned them to a different store (I don't see them in my DVDs, so I think I must have returned them to someone).  The collection is only for $28, but the principle of it makes me want to dispute it!!  As far as I can tell, it isn't on any of my credit reports, so are they just fishing for this payment?  Should I just be the better person and pay the $28 or try and call the CA and reason with them that this debt unjustified due to things out of my control?

Also, if I acknowledge the debt by paying it, will it pop up on any of my reports?  As of right now, I don't have anything bad on my reports and I'd like to keep it that way!!

Thanks in advance!

[pizzadude]

Welcome to the forums !!

Usually you would want to start the DV process when you receive an initial communication from a CA.    But given the small amount involved if you are reasonably sure that it is valid you might consider paying it if you can get the CA to agree not to report it.

[JohnPTEX]

Pay the $28 dollars and get a letter stating that they are not reporting nor will they.  $28 is not worth the hassle and/or potential nightmare.

[casmith1980]

---

@JohnPTEX wrote:

Pay the $28 dollars and get a letter stating that they are not reporting nor will they.  $28 is not worth the hassle and/or potential nightmare.

---

Agreed :-)

[RobertEG]

You have two options..... DV or negotiations.  You cant do both.

If you send a timely DV, that bars them from reporting until they provide verification. They are then under a complete cease collection bar.

They may be able to "obtain verification" from the OC of the legitimacy of the debt, and again, they may not.  In the interim, they cant report, so that gives a period of bar.

You can always PIF at any time, but the DV will bar them from any collection activity, and thus forclose negotiations on a "pay for not reporting" offer.  You cant mandate their acceptance of a "pay for not reporting" offer, so no one can tell you where that will or will not go.

One or the other.

Its a personal call.  Sending a DV is not a big hassle.

[mbj81380]

I agree that the $28 isn't worth the headache!  I'm more irritated that the company went out of business, which is why I couldn't return those movies on time!! 

And the movies weren't very good, anyway.

[Repo-ed]

Agree with the rest.  I was sent to collections from T-mobile back in 1998 for $5. I was in Kuwait and tried and tried and tried to reach somebody to pay my bill, but to no avail.  Once I was able to successfully contact somebody at the CA, she laughed at the amount, very much understood my situation. I paid and it was never reported.

[rckstrscott]

---

@mbj81380 wrote:

I agree that the $28 isn't worth the headache!  I'm more irritated that the company went out of business, which is why I couldn't return those movies on time!! 

And the movies weren't very good, anyway.

---

Yeah... if you read this forum often, and have seen the cumulative MILLIONS of dollars lost in interest, property, fees and the MILLIONS of manhours spent just trying to clean up credit, you will quickly come to the realization that $28 dollars is better than the alternative. And believe me, there WILL be an alternative.

Bottom line to me is this: You aren't even sure exactly what happened with these videos. You are only making assumptions on your side. You need to error on the side of caution with this one. Just pay it.

Save the battles for the rest of us deadbeats

-scott