confused and need help!

okay--I thought when you get a letter in the mail from a collection agency and they say you owe 'so and so'...that is what it is. I know, I'm confused and now I'm confusing you..LOL. okay, say you get a letter in the mail today from collection agency, it says you owe $2000. You write them back and ask for payment offer and they tell you that they will accept $100 a month. I thought thats what it was $2000 and $100 a month would take you 20 months to pay it off. In other words, I thought what they say you owe is exactly that, the amount you owe.

I received an email from Dell today. This is what they're saying about the four account that OXFORD is now holding (all four).

1. Principal Bal: $1761.70 + Interest & Fees: $697.63 = Total Due: $2459.33
Oxford sent me statement saying I owe $1761.70-thats it.


2. Principal Bal: $ 584.21 + Interest & Fees: $251.87 = Total Due: $ 836.08
Oxford has this one listed at $797.64-thats it.

3. Principal Bal, Interest & Fees combined: $4245.84
Oxford has this as the same, listed $4245.84

4. Principal Bal: $2014.04 + Interest & Fees: $866.08 = Total Due: $2878.84
Oxford has this listed as $2012.04-thats it.

she said these are valid principle balances but not valid payoff balaces. I asked if dell could take these accounts back and she said no, and even if they did, they wouldn't accept payment arrangements since the account is default.
she suggested that I do a settlement as an option and Oxford would give me a better deal than Dell would. Yeah, like I have these kind of money laying around. I am screwed. I am screwed. I don't know what to do next. I am dealing with collection agencies now on other accounts and what they said I owed, in their original notification letter is what I am paying. What the Dell lady (recovery special-ist) is news to me.

BUT this is the amount the four letters I have gotten over the past couple of days say that I owe.
collection agency is showing
1. $1761.70
2. $797.00
3. $4245.84 (this is the same)
4. $2012.04

Looks to me like neither company has their heads on straight. My mom is dealing with Dell right now. She fell behind on her payments when dad was laid off for the winter and she only owed $1100.00. Now comes the clincher, now Dell is saying she owes close to $3000.00 and they told her she either pay the amount in full or they will personally come get the computer. Like Dell is going to her house to get the computer.

They're not going to mess with her Tammy--of course you know that from being in here. In fact, I wish it were that easy, i'd tell them to come on and get the sh*t. sorry, I'm really down right now. I should have NEVER, I mean, NEVER got mixed up with Dell. I am going to contact oxford now. I'm not going to tell them what the dell lady told me, I am going to ask is what they're saying I owe, is what I owe? and I am going to point out that since they refused to validate, I went straight to the source and got my own validation and one of the accounts is not as much as they're trying to say it is. I just want to crawl under a rock and die right now. and I'm not kidding.

I am so between a rock and a hard place right now. I'm afraid to 'not' do anything, I can't get sued, I just can't. yet I'm afraid the collection agency is going to want some kind of ungodly amount from me every month. I'm still paying on everything else that went into charge off, so theres not alot left over after that, that I can offer them. Has anyone here dealt with Oxford or know anything about them?

Shirley, take a deep breath and smile.. I mean it.. SMILE, now take another breath... so now, when u call Oxford, tell them the straight scoop on what you can afford to pay, if they don't take it, whats the worst they can do.. sue.. and you can always file Chapter 13, or even 7. I know you don't want to (and they don't want you to either, so use that to your advantage in negotiation. Ifyou need help let me know I can help you do a letter offering a playment arrangement...take care. you will get through this

It looks that Oxford has offered you lesser amount still it is too high. IMO, you should consolidate the debt. I cannot remember how far it is from SOL timeframe and 7 year reporting period. However, if you find it difficult to pay, go ahead with consolidation. The payment plan will be made in such a way that you can afford it. Your financial ability will be prioritized.

Shirley,

jj is right. just calm down and and take a breather. We are all here to help you and I will help as much as possible. You are a strong witted person that when you put your mind to it, you can accomplish ANYTHING. Hang in there.

thanks guys....
Stan---these debts went into default in 2002 and 2003, so 3 and 4 years into the SOL. Tennessee law is 6 years, so its still a ways out.

am I correct in that the statements oxford has sent me is what is OWED totally? That is what they want me to pay them? the dell lady is tacking all this crap onto it. I thought since it went into default and a collection agency has it, they sent me a statement--that is what I owe. The statement that Oxford is showing that I owe is the total amount that Oxford is saying I owe, correct?? they're not going to tack all of this other on once I start paying, are they?? I mean, is there any truth to what the dell lady is saying? Maybe if Dell were to take the accounts back over, this is how it would be. I know one thing, I definitely DON'T want dell taking these accounts. On one hand it would be good but on the other, it would be horrible. I would get the charge off's off the report and show paying, but I would be paying dearly for it. gez. you know they charge 29% interest!!

Okay, this is placed with collection correct? Can you only deal with Oxford at this point? I'm sure you have sent debt validation already, have they validated it? When one of my payday loans went into collection, I finally got the nerve to call them when they didn't validate my debt. The original lender had tripled the amount of the loan with all these outrageous fees and such. The lady from the collection agency told me the original creditor could not add on the fees after it was turned over to them. I don't know if this would be true in your case but you may want to contact Oxford again. I wish I had more to tell you. Maybe debt consolidation would be a good idea. My husband and I entered into debt consolidation with a company we found through the forum. Once I got the payday loans taken care of, we were finally able to afford a comfortable monthly payment. We worry a lot less now and we just joined a couple of weeks ago

Hi Mishele, yes all four accounts are with Oxford. I asked Dell if I could request that the accounts go back to them, she said I could but it probably won't happen---but now after seeing everything Dell wants me to pay--forget that. I'll take my chances and deal with oxford. That is crazy!!
So you're saying I should take these four accounts that are in collections and consolidate them through a program? Some of my other collection accounts are not far from being paid off and others are still quite a ways out.
I'm wondering on the accounts that I'm already paying on and have been for a while, if they would let me consolidate or not? they might see it that I already made an agreement with them. But the dell ones haven't been touched yet.
Oxford hasn't validated. or I should they, they did what they Call validation a few days ago. One account had the last six payments that I made on it. The other account says 'kodak camera and memory cards'. thats it. the other two accounts, they just got them and they gave me the 30 days to dispute and ask for validation. Don't know why they do that when they won't do it. one of the accounts is definitely wrong, and I got validation from Dell on it so oxford is going to have to honor that.

is care one credit a good consolidation program? anyone have the website to a really good one? I am keeping this as an option, a very strong option.
Oh yeah, do some collection agencies turn down consolidation offers and just say no? what then? you just have to deal with them on your own?

Shirley, this sounds like the crap that Arrow was pulling with me...I kept calling the guy on a daily basis, and finally he backed down and we worked out a higher payment in exchange for them to stop charging me interest.

Most of the collection agencies accept payment from consolidation company, because they are looking for payments and consolidation company will definitely pay them. Be careful while selecting a good company. You can consult Ranking Chart and search in BBB also.

its retarded! I've never heard of this kind of crap. Dell is figuring up all the money they would have made on me had I kept up with the payments and paid them for two years or whatever the time frame was. It defaulted and usually when a loan defaults, thats the balance you owe. At lease with my other accounts with wells fargo, MBNA and such, the amount I owed when it defaulted, is what I owed. They didn't figure up any interests or anything. I hate to say it, but I've had problems with Dell from the on set. Its been nothing but one problem after another. Now I hear that they're setting up shop in China! why? so they can get their computers built for $10 and still charge us $2000/$2500---on yeah and another $1000 for interest. ha! you live and learn right? and this is my own fault brought on my own self. I just have to figure a way out now.

Take a breath,girl! I know all too well how panicked you are from experience. Haven't dealt with Dell,but you might call Oxford and ask what is the total you owe and is this the same amount as the payoff amount,if not,why not. Try to explain you want to get this taken care of too,but is there any way they could compromise. One thing I found out dealing with collectors is that they can't kill me(though it feel like they are),and if they try to sue,bankruptcy is an option. But I would use that as a last resort.One time I talked to a collector sounding pityfull and told him I wanted to pay this off with payments with him,but if he called for the balance in full,or outrageous payments,I could not see any other option and he would force me into bankruptcy,and I didn't want to do that. Guess I sounded pityfull enough 'cause he worked out payments. Hey,maybe I ought to try my pityfull act with phillips-cowan. Hang in there we are here for you. Don't let them get you too panicked or you won't be able to think of solutions. I too think debt counseling and consolidation might be a good option for you,why don't you get some names from some people in the forum that they have used and just call and get some info,it might be your answer and give you some relief.You can do it,you are not alone in this

thanks everyone! I have calmed down a little now. I appreciate you all being there for me. consolidation is definitely an option for me now with these accounts. how does it work? consolidation figures up a monthly payment and you tell them when to take it out of the bank and they send that as the first payment with the proposal? then the collection agency tells them whether they will accept it or not, or what they would prefer to have? I was with a debt consolidation a while back and thats how it worked with them. They won't send the proposal until they have the money to go with it, correct?