What to do if Palisades and AFNI are trying to collect on same account

My suggestion would be to call Verizon and see if you could pay them first. They could have sold it and if they did then it would not be possible to pay them.

If it's sold then you will need to write up some validation letters and send them to both companies or call to see who has it. It just depends on how you want to do things. You can ask for an explination by phone or mail. By mail will give you documented proff and by phone you are taking them at their word.

I've had positive experiences from both of those companies. But being a debt collector myself I know what they can say to me and what they can't but I've not had to use that card with these guys. There are plenty of people here who have had bad experiences with these companies as well.

Before calling or writting to any collection agency I would read up on the fdcpa.

They are both junk debt buyers with terrible reputations. They report incorrect information on credit reports and try to collect on expiered debts from people they gamble on being ignorant. Real bottom feeders. Make them validate the debt by sending them a registered letter. Make them prove that the Statute of Limitations has not expired. Do not admit to owing them anything as this will renew the Statute. go to www.budhibbs.com and then click on "agencies to avoid." You will find them both listed there and you can read all about them. Bad News!!

If it was sold, you may consider asking them which company they sold it to, if they can tell you. Explain to them that you have two separate CA's trying to collect two very different amounts on this account at the same time and you need to know which one is the new owner. Once you get it nailed down using this idea and/or validation, you should sue the other company for fraudulently trying to collect a debt.

In my opinion you should phone up Verizon and ask them whether they have sold it to some collection agency or not. Tell them that you have got letters from two different collection agencies and they are asking different amount for the same bill. Ask them who is the new owner. You can also send a debt validation letter to these two collection agencies asking them to provide you information regarding:
??????? The total amount of money they claim that you owe them.
??????? Explain to you how they have calculated the amount.
??????? Copies of documents that show that your original creditor wants them to collect this particular debt from you.
??????? Verification or copy of any judgment.
??????? Their license numbers and registered agents

STOP!!!! If you receive anything from Palisades Collection LLC, DO NOT PAY, DO NOT CONTACT THE COMPANY VIA PHONE (unless your are able to record the phone calls). All you have to do is send a letter via certified mail to them and to your Attorney General, (if you are not in the state of PENNSYLVANIA, please also send a copy of the letter to the Attorney General in PA)This company is ripping individuals off and the company has already been sued by many states in USA for their unprofessional practices, not just their childish customer service, but also in their way they are forcing individuals to pay more than what is owed.

By law they have 30 days to prove that such amount listed is in fact yours, either via a contract or copies of identification as to when you open the account. If they can not do this, they must either close the account and you should receive a letter (to which you must keep for the rest of your life) or they must remove everything from your credit file.

You are completely wrong on the time limit.There is nothing in the fdcpa that gives a collector a time limit to validate.All your other advice is good.

What if I have never received a thing from this company and they have now served me with court papers? What should I do?

Well if you have been served,then file your answer and demand all relevant documentation during discovery.

do you pay them or not if they say you owe money. i payed off all my cards 2 mouths ago.

Why would you pay??? Challenge the legitimacy of the debt by sending them a DV letter. Under the fdcpa, they must stop all the collection activities until they validate the debt. The CA must send you a proper proof that the debt is yours. Remember mailing you an invoice is not a proper validation of the debt. Until and unless they properly validate the debt the CA can not report the item to your credit report or ask you to pay off the debt. But do they really follow these guidelines? No they do not. That is the reason it is important to be aware of your rights.

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Ok So I too have a palisades collection ($155) from Verizon; but Verizon is no longer showing up in my report just the collection agency..is that normal?

Okay so Ive been trying to figure out what this account that Palisades Collection is trying to collect from verizon.Now this bill was a "GTE Bill" (Verizon bought GTE back in 99 I believe) and I don't have the original bill and I do not every remember paying this.
Now I know this has been 10+ years. I never paid anything as I was not aware of it and then in 2006 Palisades Collection went and open a Derogatory on my credit for the amount of 84 dollars and started to here and there (maybe 3 letters if that) sending me collection letters.... Now till this day I have not recieved any notice but been monitoring my credit for pass two years... Ive had all my personal information as far as address etc updated when Ive moved.

Now How do I go about handling this as they havent return my phone call message I have left them two days ago.

If this bill is over 10 years old it should NOT be in your credit report at all. Immediately call the credit reporting agencies and get the date of first default....if it is wrong, then you need to take some action.

First send a DV letter to them demanding they validate the account and PROVE when the last payment was made because they are fraudulently reporting the debt and seriously impacting your credit scores.

Once you get the green card back, dispute the accounts with the CRAs...if they get verified then you have the CA on continued collection activity and have the beginnings of a lawsuit against them.

If they do not validate it, then send them another letter demanding remove from the CRAs...that if they fail to comply you will not hesitate to sue them.

Thank You Goldenbast for the fast reply