A Tender Tale of Paid Prior

[Spike309]

What is the name of your state? IL

Bought a house 11/03 after paying off a few lingering debts. Biggest was almost $500 for a natural gas bill in '01.

Got a recent copy of my credit report in anticipation of an increased credit score and see that a new collector has reported the same natural gas debt on all 3 agencies. I confirmed with the original creditor via telephone that the bill had been paid. I spoke via phone with the collection agency and they stated that they had purchased the debt 1 week after it was supposedly paid by me and that it had been validated before they purchased it. What is my next course of action to get this stuff looking as pretty as possible on my credit report since this collection agency "bought" my paid prior debt and plans on collecting it?

What I intend to do (prior to any better advice)

Get the letter from the original creditor saying paid.

Send copy to the collection agency, wait for them to post "paid" on my credit report.

Dispute with credit agency and provide them with contact and account numbers to verify that this was paid before the CA got the account and try to get them to remove the item.


Is this right? How long will all of this take?

 

[Spike309]

HA, I should have mentioned. The collection agency sent me a letter:

Dear ********,

In regards to the above mentioned account, we understand that you have paid this debt prior to us receiving it. Please provide one of the following proofs:

- A letter providing proof that the above mentioned account has been paid in full or settled.

- A copy of a cancelled check that will provide our office sufficient proof that the account has been satisfied.

- A letter providing us with the amount of the payment, the date of the payment and to whom it was paid.



Of course, I paid with a debit card to the utility company in the first place and the collector says they won't accept a copy of my bank statement as proof and that they will require a letter from the original creditor.