Hello All-

Yesterday I received a letter from a Debt Collection Agency in Delaware. They are trying to collect on a debt that I settled roughly a year ago. I sent payment to the original creditor, Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E sent me a confirmation letter of my payment in full. I thought the matter was closed. Apparently not.

What should be my next step?

My plan is to send the CA a letter stating I paid PG&E in full on XX/XX/07, Check cashed on XX/XX/07, etc., & include a copy of the confirmation letter I received from PG&E. I will also state that I consider the matter closed and if I receive any more attempts to collect from them and/or related statements on my credit reports, I will contact my lawyer.

Anything I am missing? Any thoughts/suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreiciated.


Thanks, Pants

I would also send a letter to PG&E since they sold a collection agency an account that was already settled.

I would state similar things as the letter to the CA about seeking damages if your credit is harmed in any way based on their negligence. I would send a copy of the letter from the CA as well. Ask them to contact the CA as well on your behalf (their contact will hold more weight to the CA than yours)

__________________
skins_fan
- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
www.retailsavingsonline.com

Also don't forget to send everything certified with signature / return receipt.

__________________
skins_fan
- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
www.retailsavingsonline.com

Thanks for responding, Skins Fan. I did send a letter to PG&E as well asking that they contact the CA to try to straighten it out from their end. Both letters were sent ceritified mail/return receipt requested.

We had a similar situation once. We moved out of an area and canceled the cell phone service we had since they couldn't provide us with coverage where we were moving. We paid everything off, closed all accounts and moved. A year later the cell phone company sends the collection agency bulldogs after us.

We had to drive back to the main office (taking time off work) and explain to them we had settled this the year before. They found their mistake and apologized. Boneheads...

It may be an oversite by PG&E as well. Sometimes papers don't get entered, personnel quit, who knows. Hopefully your letter will allow them to see their error.

Yeah, I figured it was probably a clerical error of some kind. I hope it is resolved with the proof of payment I provided to both parties involved. I learned a couple of years ago (the hard way) to save every shread of paper I get from any company involving $$$$$.

I just seem to have really bad luck when it comes to companies and paper work. I just received a letter from the IRS today, asking for money back from my 2004 tax return. 2004!!! Apparently they over paid me by $150 that year. Off to write another nasty letter.....

You're kidding?!? $150? <sigh>

Looks like they are barely making it in under the cutoff limit.

Looks like you are on top of it, let us know how it works out

__________________
skins_fan
- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
www.retailsavingsonline.com

I am pretty sure that the client to the ca (in this case pg&e) should update the ca that owns the debt. in most cases, faxing them a proof of payment is all you need to do. i don't blame you for not wanting to pay a ca, but sometimes if you pay their client, or your provider, it delays the process. and also, threatening them with lawyers dosen't really do much, atleast not with the agencies i've heard of. i know their not the most pleasant people to deal with, but i like it that way. that's what keeps me out of collections.

I would definitely send letters via certified mail rather than fax. Of course doing both would be the best!~

__________________
Bailout People - Your Financial Crisis HQ