collection agency

olgaherrera--until you are 'actually' sued, its never too late to try to negotiate this. Have you actually tried talking to Bell South and going over all of this with them?? You could always try calling them--work your way up the chain to someone that might will listen. Explain the situation and tell them that you would prefer dealing with them directly rather than a collection agency. At this point, they may not work with you and you have to work with the collection agency. I have found that many collection agencies will take monthly payments. They come off strong to start with, threaten court, garnishment, and so forth...but will usually work out a payment plan with you. I have negotiated with many collection agencies using this method. Of course the idea is that they want to get paid and would rather get paid all at once but when they realize you can't do it, due to hardships or whatever, they will usually work out a plan. Over a year ago, I was terrified to answer my phone or go to the mailbox, I was getting so many threats. threats to take my home, threats of going to court, threats of garnishment. Almost every debt I had, went into charge off mode and went to collection agencies. My credit sucked!!! I was at rock bottom. Now, after learning alot from this group (learning that these clowns can't do even a fraction of what they claim they can do, and the right way to legally handle them on my own) and getting strong--(standing up for myself) and paying my debts every month, I have paid almost all of my collection agencies off!
I'm sure others will be along to offer their advice, but in my opinion, talk directly to bell south. If you have to work with a collection agency, it might not be as bad as you think. I've dealt with a few decent ones, there are some out there. hope I have somehow helped. shirley :D

Shirley

Thank you for your advise. I have already tried to deal with Bell South but can't work it out with them. Today I spoke to the collection agent. Can't say he was nasty but said they only had one payment plan to be paid at $1333.00 a month for 6 months. I told him I could never make those payments. He said Bell South would sue. I did advise him I had nothing of value, which is true, I don't even own a car at this point in my life. I did however sent the collection agency a validation request letter which may or may not buy me some time to gather my finances and perhaps work something out with them. I am happy to hear that their threats are not that dangerous though. I get frustrated and scared when I get one of their phone calls. I have never been sued in my life and just the thought of it is very unconfortable.

I assume you can still work out arrangements with Bell South as long as they are hiring this debt collector. When a collector is hired, they collect the money from the consumer and send the total payment back to the original creditor. I think you will still be able to pay directly to the original creditor.

I am not sure why a new collection agency is calling you with new debt account. Let them first validate the debt in writing so that you know about their genuine collections.

Christina, I have placed in the mail today a certified letter to the collection agency requesting validation. I was told that a new collection agency
was assigned because the previous one had failed to collect the entire amount and had set me up into monthly payments which by the way were very confortable for me.

Make sure that you send your payments to that CA that actually has your debt information. Don't end up paying to the wrong company who had nothing to do with your debt account. Once money is sent to some company for wrong reasons, it is tough to get it back. Be careful when you pay to a CA. Pay to that company only who actually is supposed to collect the money.

Amen christina!! you are sooo right on in what you said...been there and done that. olgaherrera, I have had what christina is talking about, happen to me a few times. once you send money to the wrong agency, unfortuately, you can pretty much kiss it goodbye. sometimes you can get the money back or they will forward it on to the next collection agency that is holding the account now, but it can really make you want to pull your hair out. I am running around with Wells Fargo right now for this very reason. :cry: so beware and make sure you're paying the right collection agency before you start to send any money. BUT after you get the validation that you have requested. do nothing until you get that. =) shirley