Collection Agency

What is the name of your state? Oregon

I got turned into a collection agency. I called them and made payment arrangements twice and they have backed out of the agreement. I am now getting charged interest, whereas if they would of stuck to the agreement I would not have not have been charged interest and the bill would of been paid off 22 August 02. What can I do?

[Ladynred]

Pay the bill. Sorry, sounds trite, but that's about all you can do. Your first mistake when making an 'agreement' with the collection agency was not getting it in WRITING, signed off by the CA. NO agreement with a CA over the phone will EVER be honored, so, if you want to try to set up a payment plan with these scumbags, you're going to have to write one up and send it to the CERTIFIED mail, return receipt requested.. keep ALL receipts. When you send it, leave a line on it for their signature agreeing to the 'plan'. This is the ONLY way you're going to get them to stick to anything.

If the original contract called for allowing interest to be charged, there's not much you can do about it unless and until they agree to a plan that does not include the interest.

I planned on paying the bill. I just didn't want to pay the interest. I thought that they were very rude when they broke the agreement. I agreed to pay way more than I could afford to get the debt paid off. I just recently bought a house and have two teenagers. I couldn't afford much. Is it possible for me to send them a certified letter asking them to send me monthly bills and not to call me anymore? Let them know that I will pay what I can monthly.

[Ladynred]

You can make the request, but its doubful they'll agree to send you monthly bills, that would cost THEM money, and their game is getting YOUR money. Rude or not, these CA's simply will not abide by a verbal agreement. They have very convenient memorys and will always 'forget' that you ever made an agreement.. they have NO honor whatsoever.. they're slime.

You can certainly send the C&D and tell them not to contact you via PHONE anymore, ONLY by mail, in most cases this does work (despite what some here say). I'd send them a separate letter (also certified) with an offer of a payment amount and schedule that YOU can afford (without the interest), if nothing else that will show good faith on your part to pay the bill. They will probably refuse, or send you a counter-off, again with THEIR terms and interest, but stick to your guns on your offer. If you waver, they'll dive back in, so keep insisting that what you're offering is ALL you can afford to pay. Belive me, they'll take your money fast enough.

Thanks for your advice. I will get a hold of them BY MAIL.