2 agencies trying to collect the same bill
Date: Mon, 07/19/2010 - 15:38
My husband had some very expensive dental work done back in 2006. Our insurance didn't cover what we had anticipated and we were left with $3K out-of-pocket. We were making payments on it, but then we had some rough times with my twins....they were born early and spent 4 months in the nicu. Anyhow, somewhere in there, the dental office sent our bill to collections. I got one phone call at work and told them not to contact me at work. Never heard back....this was in 2008. In February a sheriff came to my house to serve papers that the dental office was suing me. Here's where it gets tricky and I think this is where the mixup starts....they changed names somewhere along the way. The papers were served under the OLD name of the dental office. They got their judgement and I've been making payments. Well, today I got a call from another collection agency trying to collect the same debt. It's the same amount and everything, the only difference is that this one is under the dental office's NEW name. What can I do? I owe the money, so I feel obligated to pay it and I'm ok with that. BUT, I'm not going to pay it twice. AND the lady that called me today was a total WITCH! I'm paying the judgement through an attorney's office and they have been incredibly friendly and easy to deal with. I called the atty's office today to make sure that they hadn't transferred or sold the debt and they haven't.
Help please?
The step that needs to be taken immediately is to send a debt va
The step that needs to be taken immediately is to send a debt validation letter to the second collection agency which has contacted you later. Send the validation letter through a certified mail with return receipt so that you'll have proof of your actions. Under the Federal law (FDCPA), the collection agency should reply to the validation letter within 5 days of receiving your letter. I think the CA will stop contacting you at this point only.
But to be sure, you must take out your credit report to check whether the account has again been reported in your report. You can also file a complaint against the collection agency with The FTC or your State Attorney General with all the relevant documents that prove that you're already paying the debt.
Click on this link to get more information on how to fight debt collectors
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/handle-collectors.html
She also needs to contact the attorneys office that is already c
She also needs to contact the attorneys office that is already collecting the judgement and have THEM contact that other collector. Also, send copies of the previous judgement for that account to the collector, the hell with doing anything else. I would check with the attorney that is already collecting the judgement about sueing the place that is now trying collect on the SAME account.
