My Experience with Credit Collection Service (CCS) Collection Agency

[Anonymous]

Good Morning! 

I have officially paid off my first colleciton account, and I'm hoping that I've followed the advice here in this forum well enough to have done so CORRECTLY. Haha. Here's what happened: 

When I first checked my credit report, I noticed a collection account for $109 that originated with Progressive auto insurance. I did have Progressive (in fact, I have them now since I switched back not long ago after getting a quote that was hard to turn down), but I called them and asked them to cancel my account prior to my move. I switched companies initially due to the $300 difference in six-month policy rates. Anyhoo... apparently the CSR on the phone failed to tell me as I was cancelling that I was into a new billing cycle, so when I hung up the phone that day, I was under the impression I was square with Progressive. Apparently not. I found the CCS (Credit Collection Service) account on my CR, and I first called Progressive. This is when I learned that I was still responsible for payment when I cancelled. Apparently they MAILED me the notice, but only after it was 30 days late, and to my old address. It was never forwarded to my new addresss. At this point, I just wanted to take care of it. 

1 - Asked Progressive for removal in exchange for PIF. They could not make any promises and told me all they could do was report it as PIF to the CA, and that the CA would then update the PIF status with the CBs. Not good enough for me. 

2 - Called the CA (CCS). Believe it or not, the woman I spoke with was VERY friendly (although I could tell she uses this as a means to get info from people), and she was also helpful. I asked for removal in exchange for PIF. At first, she said, "We will contact the CBs and notify them of the PIF status..." Nope. Not good enough. I repeated myself. "I would like a promise that when I PIF this account, CCS will contact all three of the CBs and make a request for this account to be removed completely - not just updated as PIF." At this point, the CCS rep gave my a file number and pin to log into my account through their company. She'd uploaded a statement that said exactly what I'd asked for - CCS would make a request to each of the three CBs to remove this account completely upon being PIF. 

I printed that document for my records, then I PIF. 

The rep said that it takes them somewhere between 7 and 14 days to process the payment entirely, generate the request to the CBs, and get that request to those CBs. She said after that, it's up to the CBs what they do with the request and it's out of their hands. This is the part that made me curious. Can the CBs continue to report an account that the creditor has asked to have removed? It seems to me that the CBs exist to report information provided to them by creditors - not whatever information they feel should be on there. 

Thoughts? Advice? Did I do this properly? Should I expect to have any issues with this account coming off my CRs with any of the three CBs? 

[Medic981]

You did well. I believe you got a snippy CSR. As you said, "It seems to me that the CBs exist to report information provided to them by creditors - not whatever information they feel should be on there." I would be confident that if the CA held up their part of the agreement, the CB would remove the derogatory from your CR.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Medic. 

I really appreciate it! I was terrified in dealing with this (first time I've ever had to deal with a collection agency in my life). It feels good to have the balance off my CRs and no longer over my head, but it'll feel even better when I see that account completely removed. One down, three more to go! 

[Brooklyn2018]

I had CCS for a Progressive collection...well, still do on EX. I PIF to Progressive and tho they did not give anything in writing a PFD but, CSR and Supervisor said CA will delete the account once I PIF. So, I did. A few days later(this was in May, mind you) collection dropped from TU and EQ. STILL on EX, WITH the balance and all remarks. It stopped updating in June. The balance is still there along with all remarks😡
I called and spoke to x2Supervisor who gave her direct line and said if it hasn’t been removed within the next 3-4 weeks(to be fair and give them time...HA!-THEY HAD SINCE MAY!! Grrrr) then give her a call and she’ll get it handled. I played along politely and going to follow her instructions. I don’t want CCS to update with a $0. Bal. I want it removed as they said it would be. So, we’ll see? Again, it was PIF in May...it’s now SEPTEMBER!! Geez!!

Was your CCS finally removed???

I hope you have better luck!👍

...I guess I’m 2/3’s lucky!! 😆

😊