Question:
Here's my problem. Two months I received a letter from a collection
agency saying that I owed over $9k to a vendor for a product my
company purchased. Now, I didn't recognize the name of the vendor
(nor the agency, for that matter). So I called them and asked them to
fax/send me a copy of my invoice.
Two weeks later, I received another letter for them asking for
payment. I called and again asked them to fax/send me a copy of my
invoice. (This time I noted person and date called.)
Last week I received a nastygram requesting payment for the invoice.
I mailed, by registered return receipt mail, a letter stating that I
needed a copy of the invoice, a PO#, or some other proof they actually
sent me something we ordered in order to pay them. When I call, I'm
told the person who I'm supposed to talk with is on the phone, and
nobody else can help me, but I can leave a message (which hasn't been
returned.... both seem VERY odd to me!)
Again today another more nasty nastygram, but yet no contact other
than by mail. I'm willing & able to pay if there's a valid debt, but
I'm being frustrated by the lack of information...I can't pay unless I
can find a PO to bill it to (or find enough info to create one...)
FWIW, the collection agency is in CA, the Vendor is god knows where,
and I'm in Mass.
Am I being unreasonable, or is there something I'm missing. Anyone
have any better ways to handle this?
Answer:
-Spend $150.00 and talk to your attorney. Let him send them a letter.
Everything with a collection agency should be done through the mail. Never
over the phone.
Collection agencies go by what they are given by their client and take it
as gospel.
-Much thanks to all that answered my plea for help. Here's the
results.
I tracked down the vendor using www.switchboard.com, and called up
their A/R Manager. He was suprised to hear from me because
(1) The debt has already been paid (to the collection agency) 3
months ago.
(2) The original debtor was a company that had a similar comapny name
to my company, but was in another state...
And the A/R Manager was, uhh, distressed, to see that we had been
contacted at all, and was concerned with the difficulties I had
tracking down a person at the Collection Agency... He said he'd look
into it...
End result is that I'm going to fax him a letter complaining about
their agency and he's going to fax me an apology...
