Hopeful1 Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 There is an alleged utility bill in my name that is in collections. There is a question regarding the amount of alleged debt (CA has two different amounts). Would it be prudent to contact the OC for copies of the last few bills that they say are mine or is there a better way to go about finding out the amounts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debtorshusband Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 I am almost always in favor of working with OC's to resolve issues and telling the CA to shove off.CA's have only a number transmitted electronically to work with. They don't have account records, etc., so they really are not empowered to make any decision. All they know how to do is harangue you and tell you to send them money.An OC has more more power to negotiate with you, and they might have some desire to provide good customer service and about keeping you a satisifed customer.Regards,DH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDaddy Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Is the OC reporting, or just a CA?I'd say initially, dispute it with the CB's because of the different amounts. then if it comes back as valid, send the OC a 623 and see what they've got.They might not have the records if it's been awhile (2 years +), if not, the CB's have to take it off your CR.And yeah, better to work with the OC than a CA any day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crash5050 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I was dealing with an OC that is a utility Company, they did the reporting, no CA involved. They were the hardest to get removed from my report. I paid the bill, they updated to paid/Charge off. Well that was knocking my score down by 100 points according to the score estimator that USAA has. I called every number I could find, until one day I looked up the SEC filings for this company, and found out who the CEO and CFO were.I wrote a very cheesy email saying that I am still a customer, and I oay my bills ahead of time, and one mistake should not be held against me yadda yadd yadda, and I emailed it to every combination of email addressed that could possibly be @util.com for these guys, also added CEO@ and CFO@. 2 days later I got a letter in the mail saying the charge offs had been removed from my reports, and they were, this was my last baddie, and it did raise my score over 100 pts.Keep fighting, you can get them removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDaddy Posted April 1, 2012 Report Share Posted April 1, 2012 (edited) On second thought, Crash's 'catch more flies with honey than vinegar' approach would probably work better with a utility bill....Maybe this will work for you too in this situation.... Edited April 1, 2012 by RockDaddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Since this is in collections and I am not currently a customer I was hoping to not stir anything up. When I say that I mean I don't have the money to pay what they say I allegedly owe in full and making payments is out of the question as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the input everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debtorshusband Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Since this is in collections and I am not currently a customer I was hoping to not stir anything up. When I say that I mean I don't have the money to pay what they say I allegedly owe in full and making payments is out of the question as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the input everyone!With this new information, as I see it you have two options. (Three, if you're willing to do nothing except endure or duck their collection efforts.)1. Write a letter telling the CA that they are not to contact you again, that you will resolve this with the OC when your situation permits.2. Write a standared DV letter to the CA. The can't contact you again until they mail you verification. They may just go away. Even if they do mail you something, it will take some time. And even if they do send you something, you then do Option 1. Sending the DV letter first just burns some time.Good luck.DH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coltfan1972 Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 When I say that I mean I don't have the money to pay what they say I allegedly owe in full and making payments is out of the question as far as I'm concerned.You don't have anything to bargin with, so I'd just move on and let this be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted July 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Ok so now I have moved back to the state where this utility originated and need their service. Hubby applied for their service, was denied and told he had to pay an alleged outstanding balance that was in my name at an old address. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomnTex Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 They have the upper hand. Looks like you will have to make payment arrangements or pay in full to get service. Don't think they will bend, sorry to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kutuzov Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Yeap, you pay or you won't get service I don't think they will fold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Thanks for the replies. Just wondering if it's worth trying the "it wasn't my responsibility since it was not in my name" idea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Sorry,let me rephrase my explanation/question-hubby applied in his name and they somehow connected it to me. They told him that he had to pay full outstanding balance in my name from an old address before he would be approved. No explanation from them on why they would expect payment on an account that's not his. Is that standard/legal? I was considering applying myself and see if they would have to pull it out of collections and it might help my credit then...thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kutuzov Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Not sure if it's legal or not, but they can probably refuse service on whatever they think is viable, maybe he cosigned the original contract, just guessing, or something. It's like your credit card, they can cancel it whenever they want, and for whatever reazon. Unless there's a specific law that states they have to provide service, they can refuse to enter into a contract with you or your husband, that's why we live in a free country and they are free not to provide service, as you are not to use thier service, so probably there's no law on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torden Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 They sold it to a JDB and want paid in full from the original account holder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 It was sent to a CA, then sent to a different one after I DV'ed with no response. The last I knew it was with a CA, but the OC is pushing for payment in this situation. I would think the OC would have to pull it out of collections for them to try and collect unless there's something I'm missing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torden Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 It was sent to a CA, then sent to a different one after I DV'ed with no response. The last I knew it was with a CA, but the OC is pushing for payment in this situation. I would think the OC would have to pull it out of collections for them to try and collect unless there's something I'm missing...Just keep DV-ing and/or CC-ing as needed until the OC figures it out and contacts you directly. Let them get their own clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadragon Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Stating that you had to have electricity so now you went with a different provider and now they will have to pay you for the green solar at a higher rate.just rub it into their faces how they no longer have a monopoly on electricity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopeful1 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Thanks for the replies! It was a gas utility so I had no choice but to pay up. I'll be pulling new CRs soon to see if they've updated appropriately. Hope this ends up helping my credit instead of me being broke but having service again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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