Helpful ATT Collections Info

kwinks · ‎10-15-2015

Hi guys,

So I had a collection from ATT that has bounced around to 4 different collection agencies over the years. I noticed that about every 6 months or so a new collection agency would appear on my report and the old one was gone. Based on my calculations I saw that AFNI has acquired it in April 2015 so October would be around when the ATT collection would go to someone.

So today I called ATT to see if maybe I could pay them before the collection was sent to another agency and sure enough she said I could. I paid and immediately went to the 3 credit bureaus to try and enter a dispute, but it was already gone. Either they worked really fast and deleted it within minutes or my calculations were spot on about the dates. I did notice that Credence Resource Management did a soft pull about 5 days ago, but so far nothing has appeared on my report.

Now I am just waiting on myFico to update and see if the collection is still on my report.

This will be my last collections!!! Fingers crossed.

Anonymous · ‎10-15-2015

Good strategy - I got DirecTV off the same way. I wish all of my collections were like that.

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished · ‎10-15-2015

@kwinks wrote:
Hi guys,

So I had a collection from ATT that has bounced around to 4 different collection agencies over the years. I noticed that about every 6 months or so a new collection agency would appear on my report and the old one was gone. Based on my calculations I saw that AFNI has acquired it in April 2015 so October would be around when the ATT collection would go to someone.

So today I called ATT to see if maybe I could pay them before the collection was sent to another agency and sure enough she said I could. I paid and immediately went to the 3 credit bureaus to try and enter a dispute, but it was already gone. Either they worked really fast and deleted it within minutes or my calculations were spot on about the dates. I did notice that Credence Resource Management did a soft pull about 5 days ago, but so far nothing has appeared on my report.

Now I am just waiting on myFico to update and see if the collection is still on my report.

This will be my last collections!!! Fingers crossed.

Congrats!

I did the same thing for my S.O. The ATT Collection had actually assigned to AFNI but had not yet reported. I noticed the same things as you did, that the collection would get passed around every six months.

I called the customer service number and their automated system still showed the account balance (four years old) in their system. The rep did some checking and assured me that the collection would not report. And it didn't.

People should NEVER pay a collection agent for an ATT collection, or DirectTV or Verizon. If you keep at it, you can settle with the OC and the collection will vanish.

There is a lot of talk on here about who whether the OC can make the CA remove a collection, and it is often stated they can't if they don't own it. Don't you believe it!

These giant companies are a huge souce of business for these CA's, and when ATT tells the CA to delete, they delete!

Never, ever pay the CA for a utility collection.

Anonymous · ‎10-15-2015

I did the same with Cox - paid the OC and they recalled from collection - all gone from reports now.....

I agree - with utilities - pay OC first and get them to recall from CA. Most all will because at some time you MAY NEED service with them again.

RobertEG · ‎10-15-2015

The distinction in gettng a collection removed is whether the debt has been paid.

If the debt collector still had active collection authority at the time you pay the OC, then the collection is not required to be deleted.

In fact, CRA policy instructs the debt collector NOT to delete.

However, if the debt collector has had their collection authoriity terminated PRIOR to paying the OC, then CRA policy instructs the debt collector to delete their reported collection. That CRA policy is directed at the more significant issue of prevention of two collections from simultaneously being shown in a consumer's credtit repoft if the creditor than assigns collection authority to s new debt collector after termination of the previsous authority.

It is thus not a matter of incorrect info being posted in the forum as to required removal of a collection, but rather an understanding of the conditions under which deletionr is or is not mandated per CRA policy.

Catching the OC between collection assignments is an excellent way to rid one's file of reported collections.

Just pay in full prior to any new collection assignment, and no negotiation with the creditor is even required.

greenjeans1 · ‎12-11-2015

I wish I read this more carefully before I'd paid my Diversified for my ATT cell phone bill. I'm starting to send out GW letters. Any suggestions to whom at AT&T I should send GW letter? Should I send to both Diversifed AND AT&T. The collection mark sent my score down almost 50 points!!

Anonymous · ‎05-12-2017

Can someone please expand on what is OC? I have a collection letter from a CA for an ATT bill.

rmduhon · ‎05-12-2017

OC is Original Creditor. In your case it would be AT&T.