Cellular One/Cingular

[jensgt]

In 2000 I had a cel phone with Cellular One. I had broken my leg and had surgery to repair it and missed work for a long time. At this point I got behind on my cell phone bill, but with a car and another bank loan the phone was my last priority.

They turned off the phone, and I called and paid them I think it was $60 and they said they woulkd turn it back on even though i wasnt completely up to date yet. They did not turn it back on even after I called again and they said they would. 2 weeks later I get a call from them saying if I do not pay in full what I owed (which was a little over $100) they were charging me an early termination fee (275) and sending me to collections.

I was like...huh? and told the lady they could not do that I had just paid part of my bill 2 weeks ago, they lied to me about turning my phone back on, and they were honestly my last priority at the time and I could not pay the full amount, so basically I told them to buzz off.

A friend of mines dad worked for Cell one, Cingular had bought them out at that point...and I told her what had happened, and I thought he took care of it because I did not hear from them after that, besides receiving a couple normal bills.

Almost 4 years later I start receiving calls from a collection agency. I try to tell the guy I have received NO bills and NO contact from anybody in 4 years. He says I should have I say no. At that point I should have just paid him but was not the most responsible person at the time and did not pay them.

This week ive been dealing with alot of financial stuff trying to get in order to move out. Ive paid off practically all of my debt besides my car which I am selling right now. I called Cingular and got the # of the company who bought out my debt. The guy who answers the phone looks me up by name, soc sec #, telephone #, adress, and can not find me anywhere. He was real jerky to me saying he has 1000s of people with my name, Jen Morgan, and I need to give him an acct #. I tell him I have no acct # and he says well then I cant help you.

So what can I do in this situation? They cant find an account #, I have no way to find one. I checked all 3 of my credit reports and they are not on there. If they ever do file a collection to any of the 3 agencies, do I have a valid dispute? I mean I dont know how much I owe and I cant send them money if I dont have an acct # and they basically dont know who the hell I am.

Very frustrated here...what should I do? My current thought is to call back again this time getting a persons name and documenting further.

[jojo67]

Honestly, if they aren't even reporting perhaps they did in fact take care of it ??! I'll wait for the experts on this one, but I'm tempted to let it ride for a while, and see what occures. Obviously they can't find you then they can't validate for you, meaning if they do report, yes you should have a valid dispute. Keep track of everything, and document.

If the DOLA was in 2000 it's probally so old Cingular can't find it in their records. Is Cell One/Cingular on your credit reports ?

[jensgt]

Well, the person who I thought may have taken care of it was an employee of the company itself. He didnt because the person who called a year ago was an employee of a collection agency.

Nothing shows on my credit at all for Cingular/Cellular one at all. Not only no collection but no account.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the girl at Cingular Collections has the wrong information and Im contacting the wrong collection agency...but again this wouldnt be my fault.

I wonder what is the best way to document and prove that this agency cannot find me in their database and I tried to pay them. I can just get names but if it ever does go on my report I want to have rock solid proof of trying to pay. lol!

[jojo67]

Well, the person who I thought may have taken care of it was an employee of the company itself. He didnt because the person who called a year ago was an employee of a collection agency.

Nothing shows on my credit at all for Cingular/Cellular one at all. Not only no collection but no account.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the girl at Cingular Collections has the wrong information and Im contacting the wrong collection agency...but again this wouldnt be my fault.

I wonder what is the best way to document and prove that this agency cannot find me in their database and I tried to pay them. I can just get names but if it ever does go on my report I want to have rock solid proof of trying to pay. lol!

I'm going to go on a limb here..... the experts may agree or not.... which I would welcome

I would get this joker's address, send him a DV letter, with your name and info on it. DO Not put your SSN, and don't sign it! simply type it, or copy the letter from the letters section above....changing it of course to suite your needs. Send it CMRR.

Even if they do figure out who you are, that puts the stop on them so they can't report it, at least not without listing it disputed by consumer. Chances are they won't respond, but if they do, it will be some nonesense or "we can't find you" you then have the start of your papertrail for documentation.

Don't call them on the phone anymore, and make sure you include limited C&D in your letter to them. Don't give them your telephone # or any more than the bare min to look you up in there system.

I hope that helps

[jensgt]

thanks for the advice. Im new to this board so I dont know some stuff. What is a DV letter, CMRR and, C&D? lol

[jojo67]

thanks for the advice. Im new to this board so I dont know some stuff. What is a DV letter, CMRR and, C&D? lol

No worries, we all start somewhere, and welcome

DV=Debt Validation

CMRR=Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested

C&D= Cese and Desist

You might check out http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3916 for a better list of all the abreviations you will encounter here....

There is other great information in that part of the forum

[divemedic]

Ok, the reason you can't find an account:

Cingular sells account to a CA. The CA attempts to collect, can't. They sell to another CA and so on. Your account may have changed hands 4 or 5 times by now. Depending on where you live, it may even be out of SOL by now.

If they aren't calling you and it isn't reporting, let it lie. When and if a CA contacts you or places a TL on your report, DV them immediately. Until then, don't worry about it.

[jensgt]

sounds good to me except what is SOL, and TL?

I checked the link jojo gave me for those terms and didnt see anything

[Recovering Attorney]

SOL = Statute of limitations, the time a creditor has to sue you

TL= trade line, the data about the account that shows up on your CR

If they aren't reporting it, forget about it. If people keep calling, tell them to write you. Ask for a name and address of the collector so you can send a C&D letter. And don't forget to say, more than once, that you Dispute owing the debt.

[jensgt]

Ok thanks for all the info.

So far only 1 person has called, this was about a year ago maybe longer? Nothing has been reported on my credit...so I guess I am safe until I hear from somebody again at which point I will try to get them to verify the debt.