Help! Response to my goodwill request

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2008

I wrote a letter to the city in which I used to live in and asked them to remove the collections charge from my credit reports. When I moved out of my house (rental) I moved out of state. This gentleman states that I gave them a forwarding address, which I did not. I never received any notifications at all! As soon as I found out about the debt to them and it was being reported to a collection agency, I paid in full. It was $62.

Here's what he wrote to me...

Sir – I am sorry that I cannot do as you request. I do see that you have paid the balance in full and I appreciate your taking care of the outstanding bill.

Our records indicate that you were sent a final bill and two notices to the forwarding address that you provided to us when you terminated the account. None of these were returned to us by the post office, so we have nothing to document that they were not received.

We are not allowed to recall an account unless it is an office error, which it is not in your case. I would be happy to provide a letter to you stating that the balance has been paid in full if it would assist you.

So am I out of luck since I swung and missed on my first chance? Is there any other course of action I can take?

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2008

bump!

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2008

I would write them back and ask them to provide the forwarding address. And I would stress that you never gave them one.

llecs · ‎08-04-2008

Keep sending them. I don't know how your city is set up, but try GWing positions like a treasurer, city manager, mayor, or council members too. I live in a suburb of DC. Every time I go to City Hall to pay a water bill, take care of taxes, etc., the employees are ALL grumpy. They never smile. They have people complain day in and day out about this or that. However, higher-ups are mostly immune to the day-to-day negative. You are more likely to get a response from them.

Anonymous · ‎08-05-2008

Well, I no longer live there so this is the only contact person I have.

I wrote him again today and asked him for the forwarding address. He sure did have my address, but it doesn't change the fact that I never received any bills from them!!! I don't know how they had my forwarding address because I do not recall giving it to them. But it was 5-years ago. And I have no way of knowing that they actually sent anything to the address. Nothing was sent certified mail. And again, I know I did not get ANYTHING from the city or the collection agency.

Anyways, we went back and forth today, politely I must add, but I am still striking out.

His final response to me today was this;

"Again, I am sorry. It is not a matter of my not wanting to help you. We are not allowed to delete information unless it is a billing error or is required by law.

As stated previously, I would be happy to provide a letter to you that the debt has been paid in full if it will help"

I am frustrated. Who else can I write to?!?!?

Anonymous · ‎08-05-2008

Bump... This is really bugging the heck out of me. This should not be on there at all. :-(

Anonymous · ‎08-05-2008

Maybe as a last-ditch effort with this guy, you can ask for the date you gave them the address? Then again, you may want to leave him out of it from here on out...?

Otherwise, the city's website should tell you the names of those who hold the higher offices referred to by llecs.

Anonymous · ‎08-05-2008

He provided me the date..03/10/03.

I think I will have to go higher up the chain. The guy with whom I have been talking is the Utility Collections Manager. Anyone can do anything, it is a question of whether they want to, so I guess I have to find someone willing to help me. He's been nice, but firm in his denials.

It is just frustrating as heck because it was such a minimal amount that had I gotten their notices I would have paid it. And now it's killing me.

Thanks for the response!

Anonymous · ‎08-05-2008

One other question...

Is it true that since I have now paid this, it can be reported for 7 more years as a collection?!?!

llecs · ‎08-06-2008

RockyBalboa wrote:
One other question...

Is it true that since I have now paid this, it can be reported for 7 more years as a collection?!?!

No! Several people have been saying that on here, but it is untrue. DOFD is used by the CRAs to determine drop off date (as recquired by the FCRA), not the date the last payment was made.