Why do they switch collection agencies?

Hi.are you paying the ORIGINAL creditor? Usually different places will 'pass' your account onto several other CA's. Why?.....this question is a mystery to me, too. Just to be safe, I would continue paying whoever the original creditor is and keep all of the reciepts, etc.....so you have proof the payment was made.

Usualy a collection agency has a certain amount of time to resolve the account. If it isn't resolved then it is sent to another one. also when a collection agency recieves a C&D they generaly send it back to the creditor (if able) who sends it to another agency. If the collection agency owns a debt they usualy sell it off to another one.

If you have an agreement with the creditor I would suggest you send a copy of the letter that they sent you to the collection agency. Otherwise if you don't have it in writting as far as a collection agency is concearned it doesn't exist.

I have a letter from the last collection agency telling me the creditor is fine with the payments I'm making. Can I send that to the new collection agency? I am still really confused as to who to pay. The old collection agency whom I've been paying (and who never told me they no longer had my account), the new collection agency (who never said to pay them) or just the creditor (so it will be paid)...the creditor is probably the way to go and I'll let the new collection agency know I've paid them since I had no other guidance? Thanks!

okay so why if peo is and has been paying faithfully--can collection agencies continue to pass debt on to someone else to collect? If they have taken payments on debt from you but didn't send you any sort of written agreement they obviously agreed with you (after accepting and cashing any sort of payment you have made--if it wasn't an agreement they should refuse your payment)--they obviously entered into some sort of agreement or wouldn't have taken previous payments and have since broke the law by passing debt on to other agencies? NO? That's how these agencies can keep claiming that they only collect on current debt when in fact they are all masters at re-aging your debt--keep records and FIGHT BACK DO THE RIGHT THING AND DON'T BE INTIMIDATED!!! The FTC has a sight where you can email complaint and THEY will get back with you and advise you what you need to do! Because I actually think that they often collect whatever they can in that certain amount of time frame that above mod referred to--THEN they SOMEHOW are able to resell the debt to someone else who is SOMEHOW able to re-age and rename that debt!!! There are probably A FEW honest agencies that collect debt here in America--but if you have been paying and they resold to two different agencies!!! Hello--they are not on the up and up!!!!! And should be prosecuted for violating fdcpa LAWS!!!!!! Also from info FYI has given--DON'T PAY ANY PAYMENTS TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN--UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN WRITING FROM COLLECTION AGENCY A WRITTEN AND AGREED TO PAYMENT PLAN---DON'T SEND A DIME UNTIL AGENCY PROVIDES YOU WITH THIS PROOF THAT FYI STATES YOU MUST HAVE!!!!GET THE PROOF OF AGREEMENT THEY AGREED TO BEFORE YOU PAY ANYTHING!!!!!

Keeping proof of payments are REALLY important. ANY 'collector' can 'come back' and say you never paid them. WHOEVER you deal with ( and I agree with the statement above) get proof of those 'collectors' who claim they NOW 'own' your accounts.

If you are still able to pay the creditor and you aren't comfortable dealing with a collection agency then I would still send your payments to the creditor. The collection agency usualy gets paid no matter if you send the payments tot hem or the creditor.

You may want to mail a letter to the agency with a copy of your agreement to the new agency. But by all means continue to mail your payments. It can get a lot worse when they believe you are refusing to pay.

Just a question...Poe..have you called the original creditor? You must have set-up a prior agreement with your credit card company. If you know the person or dept. you spoke with I would call them and ask what is going on??? You should have your statements that reflect how you have been paying..nomally the ccc with put on you statements if you have set up a plan to pay..either with a debt consolidation company or with them.

Seems like collection agencies like to play 'musical chairs' with accounts. Tansfering from THIS CA to THAT CA.......OMG!!.....I'm sure information gets lost, along the line.

also fyi can you explain your above posts ?very confusing to a somewhat uneducated person such as myself (and I am sure you must have a master's degree in something from your said knowledge on this sight)--you first stated that ca has certain amount of time to resolve and if you didn't get contract in writing than what you paid doesn't exist--then you stated to mail a copy of your agreement and keep on paying--what if this person has been paying all along as stated above but Ca never sent any sort of agreement because they only collected whatever they could in certain time frame you talked about and then resold debt to someone else?

Guest FYI is talking about two different things which I am most certain you know about.The first is a collection agency may have a limited amount of time to collect before account is either sent back to creditor or sold.The second is a person should definitely have receipts or written notice of payments sent to a agency.

There are alot of people, on this forum, who are willing to help those 'in need'. EVERYONE on this forum, should appriciate that. HOWEVER.....I think the 'negative' way....'Guest'...you came across, is rather inappropiate.