Serious question: Credit & collection agencies

[AverageJoe]

I've been running in circles with this since last night and getting nowhere. I thought maybe a fellow DUer might have some insight into what my options are.

Here's the story:

About a year ago I bought a lawn mower at a major department store They offered a 10 percent discount if I applied for a credit card at that time, so I did it and was approved. I took the lawn mower home. Weeks passed and I didn't receive a statement, so I went to the store, asked what I owed them, and gave them cash for the full amount. I never used the card again. I never even called the phone number to activate it.

Case closed, I thought. Not so.

Last night I got a call from a collection agency, claiming that my account was delinquent to the tune of almost $300.00. and that they were the new owners of the account. After a few phone calls I discovered that they had a record of my earlier payment, but there was still this other huge balance which NOBODY can tell me the origin of.

The customer service person I spoke to gave me a fax number to send in a letter disputing the charge along with my supporting evidence. Fortunately, my wife never throws any receipts away, so I had both the original receipt for the mower and the receipt for my payment.

I called back a few minutes ago to speak to someone on the "dispute team," but was told that I couldn't have any such name or phone number. Someone is supposed to get back to me within 45 days....

This is driving me mad. I have always had great credit. And now, this.

I'm considering hiring a lawyer and bringing suit against the department store and the collection agency.

Any thoughts or advice? I'd especially love to hear from any lawyers out there. Thanks in advance, even if it's just commiseration.

[Nite Owl]

1. Write your state AG

I had a problem with Cablevision sending a bill to a collection agency two years after I moved. I never got a bill and they couldn't produce it. I had no idea what it was for it was sent directly to an agency. This went on for 10 months, the AG cleared it all up in a couple of weeks. I still don't know what it was for but Cablevision called and said they heard from the AG's office and they were dropping it.

[AverageJoe]

2. Thank you, Nite Owl!

I will do that, pronto.!

[Nite Owl]

4. Send copies of

everything to them. These are 'our' lawyers, we elected them and they work for us. Of course having Eliot Spitzer here helps!

[Jokerman]

3. Document Everything!

Keep a record of all of your conversations with the company and your efforts to resolve this.

Most everyone has some kind of glitch in their credit rating. What matters to future lenders is that you have made an honest effort to pay your debt and resolve the problem.

[AverageJoe]

5. Thank you!

I hadn't thought of keeping a record of all my conversations, but I'll get on that right away.

[Missy M]

6. I believe you have the right to ask them for supporting documentation..

on the charges they claim you owe and they must provide it. What the charges were for, when did the charges occur, etc.

[MercutioATC]

7. When it's resolved, be sure they issue a letter to the credit agencies...

...all three of them.