Collection on report

Submitted by pumpkinontheway on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 20:50
Forums

I recently found a collection on my credit report that I was never notified about. Is my next step sending a debt validation letter?

Hi Pumpkin
Since the collection agency have listed their name in your credit report, you can definitely send a debt validation letter to be sure whether you owe them the debt or not. DV letter should always be sent by certified mail with return receipt. Now, they need to validate the debt within 30 days else according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they lose the right to collect the debt. The collection agency need not notify you about the fact that they are going to list your debt in the credit report. They have the right to do so if you are delinquent for a period of six months.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 10:11 Permalink

Is the mark on your credit report from the original creditor or a collection agency? Once they debt is validated and you are dealing with the original creditor you can make payment arrangements to pay off the debt. Ask them for a pay for delete and get it in writing. With a pay for delete, once the debt is paid off the creditor will remove it from your record. There are also many other options available but we would need to know more information to help you. For example: original creditor or debt collector, the age of the debt, what state you are from. If you want let us know so we can help you a little more.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 10:37 Permalink

If the collection agency validates the debt with proper documents, you should try to make the CA agree to pay for deletion agreement first and then come to a settlement plan and pay off the outstanding debt. Now if you can make the CA agree to PFD, make it in writing.

Now,I have a question - Does your credit report list the original creditor against the debt along with the collection agency?

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 10:38 Permalink

thank you all for your help

ddress:
4410 CERRITOS AVE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA 90720
No phone number available Account Number:
Original Creditor:
BABYLON DENTAL CARE

Address Identification Number: 0047971548

Status:
Collection account. $1,105 past due as of Jun 2008.
Status Details:
This account is scheduled to continue on record until May 2014.
This item was verified and updated on Jan 2009.

Date Opened:
05/2008
Date of Status:
06/2008
Reported Since:
06/2008
Last Reported Date:
06/2008

Type:
Collection
Terms:
1 Months
Monthly Payment:
$0
Responsibility:
Individual

Credit Limit:
$1,105
High Balance:
N/A
Recent Balance:
$1,105
Recent Payment:
$0

Account History:
Collection as of Jun 2008

This is what is on my report I now live in Va this is from when I was in NY
At the time I had dental insurance and Have not received any correspondence I found this when I pulled my report because of dealing with another problem

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 16:28 Permalink

It would seem that this account has not been open very long according to your report. Did you just have this dental work done last year? If so this debt can be collected if they take it to court. You say you had insurance. I would call the place that did the work and ask them why this wasn't taken care throught that insurance when you had the coverage. Hopefully you can cledar it up wiht a couple phone calls if not you may have to dispute it. Do you still have the same insurance? If so you could also call the company and see if a bill was even submitted to them or maybe wrongly submitted. Sometimes these [laces (doctors and dentists) do not put in proper procedure codes causing your insurance to deny coverage. I have had this happen countless times, even recently.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 16:44 Permalink

I do not have the same insurance This work was done in the end of 2005 or very early 2006. I will try and contact the old insurance carrier If I can find them I dont really remember who it was But I can contact my old employer to find out im sure. Thanks for the help everyone

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 18:38 Permalink
simple (not verified)

Hi Pumpkin
Have you provided them with the insurance papers when you went for the dental care? If you have not, I think you should pay off the debt as soon as possible. $1,105 is not a very large amount and you can pay them off through a repayment plan. But before repaying off the debt, send a debt validation letter to check whether you actually owe the debt to the collection agency or not. Only if they validate your debt, repay them off

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 08:42 Permalink