krazykat Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 A debt settlement company settled a debt I owed to Macy's. My balance was $4539.52 and the debt settlement company settled with Collection Agency for $2000.00 I received a letter from the Collection Agency stating they had recevied this payment for $2000 and I will be released from all claims and liabilities pertaining to this account.I now have another collection agency phoning me trying to collect the balance of $2539.54. When I told this collection agency I had settled this account through another collection agency I was advised that unless I have a letter stating I have a zero balance with Macy's, then they can still try and collect on my account. If the letter I received from the collection agency who settled this account states that I will be released from all claims and liabilities pertaining to my account, can another collection agency come into the picture and try to collect on the balance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 If the letter I received from the collection agency who settled this account states that I will be released from all claims and liabilities pertaining to my account, can another collection agency come into the picture and try to collect on the balance?Well, either one of two things has happened...1. The letter from the first CA really meant that your account with THEM was settled and, being a CA, they can't really speak for the OC. So, you still owe Macy's.b. The first CA was really a "Junk Debt Buyer" (or a CA working for a JDB) and they sold the balance of the account to another JDB.I'd suggest you call Macy's and see what they have to say... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykat Posted April 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 The letter I received from the CA stated they were acting on behalf of Macy's and were authorized to accept $2,000 as full and finaly payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Having a debt fixer in the middle of this conpounds the issue. In effect, you've got the debt fixer who makes their money from lying to clients telling you what another company who makes their money from lying to debtors telling you that the OC agreed to something.As the second CA told you, unless you have something in writing on Macy's letterhead telling you the debt is settled in full...you've been lied to.Call Macy's. See what they think is going on..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykat Posted April 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I did as you suggested. I phoned Macy's. They, in turn, referred me to Citibank. Citibank did state they had turned over past due money of $2539.00 to CA. I advised the lady at Citibank I had received a letter from another CA stating they "were authorized to make settlement on behalf of Macys". This lady at Citibank put me on hold and phoned the CA who got the settlement money from me. She came back to me and verified that the CA did in fact get the settlement amount of $2000 on my balance of $4539.00. She is going to send me a letter stating my account is "paid in full" and is going to have my credit report updated. She also told me to ignore anymore phone calls from this other collection agency; that she is going to contact them within the next 72 hours to get this matter cleared up.Thank you so much for you suggestion to call Macy's. I never would have thought to do this. You have been a great help and I really appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Glad it worked out. Be sure and keep on top of this. Sometimes even OC CSRs can't be trusted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Oh...yeah...and expect a 1099c for the $2539 forgiven income. You'll be paying taxes on that next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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