@Anonymous wrote:
Should I pay them off? If so, who should I pay the original office or the credit collection company? Will they remove the collection from my account once they have been paid in full?
If you go to the Rebuilding Forum - there's a lot of good information/advice there; You could start a new post and list out the collection agency, original creditor, amount, and dates and people can direct you to the best strategy.
IF a collection agency is collecting on behalf of a medical provider (as in, they didn't actually purchase the debt, just have collection authority), you can ask for the collection to be recalled and pay the provider directly. The collection agency will have to delete the collection since they no longer have authority to report it.
If the agency owns the debt, it's a different matter. Some collection agencies PFD (Pay for Delete) as a matter of policy, some refuse to delete. You'll have to call them to discuss or negotiate (you can try to negotiate smaller payments).
Paying them off is good because they should stop updating and suppressing your credit score, but how much, how, or when will depend on you, how much money you have, how much you owe, and the internal policies of the company collecting. You should also look up your state's Statute of Limitations for debt, as well, as that will determine if they can sue you for the debt.
Happy practitioner of AZE7or8or9or10 | Team Finances > FICO
