AboutChristine Janklow Expertise As President of SettleSource,Inc. a business debt settlement firm, I invite you to inquire about all aspects of business debt solutions to best determine which may be most appropriate. If you have questions such as: What is debt settlement and how process provide debt relief to my business? What options are available to deal with my business debts? Is it possible for a business owner to negotiate their own settlements? Why is debt settlement preferable to filing a bankruptcy or debt consolidation? Why are creditors willing to provide settlements to a business? How will settling debts affect credit scores? or How to rebuild a business after debt is eliminated. Please ask it now! For more information regarding how debt settlement can help your business, please visit www.SettleSource.com and place your inquiry. Mention All Experts to have a confidential no cost consultation with Christine. If this is your business situation time may play a very important factor in getting matters resolved proactively before they have negative affects on the business.
Experience My expertise is specific to providing business solutions that will have profound positive impacts on the financial health of businesses. I have 25 years experience as an entrepreneur and have developed national sales programs; strategic alliances; product development; marketing programs; business and turnaround plans and debt settlement programs all providing methods to improve the financial outlook for large and small businesses.
Organizations Turnaround Management Association; Los Angeles area
Publications Los Angeles Daily News; Today Magazine Monthly series of business articles entitled "Brand News."
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Business Administration; Associate of Arts Merchandising
Past/Present Clients American Airlines, American Express, Safeway Inc., New York Life, consumer products manufacturers; retailers and service providers.
Question In 2005 I opened a business in Michigan as an INC.After 2 years I had to close it due to economical losses.My utilities bills were all full paid.In Jan 2008(2 months after I closed the company) I received a bill of $2200 from the gas company in which they state that the meter was broken for a long period of time and that now I am supposed to pay an estimate.The problem is their estimate is huge ,so far away from reality.I disputed the bill ,asking them to adjust the bill and to recalculate the estimate on something close to the real usage from the previous years.Today I received a phone call from their collection department,to pay the $2200.I said that my bill is under dispute.The answer was that the dispute was closed ,the amount remaining the same.When did this happen or why they didn't notify me they said they didn't know.My question is:can they report me to the credit report agencies as an unpaid bill?(the account was on company name )I want to mention that I have a very good credit history.
Thank you
Answer Dear Diana:
Thank you for your inquiry. I regret that your business was forced into closure and that you are still resolving its related expenses. I am not as familiar with the laws that apply to utility bills, as in some states utility companies will require a personal guarantee for business accounts. That said, you can do a few more things to try to resolve this account. You should contact your states Department of Human Services to ask what can be done. You can also attempt to "settle" with the collections agency for a lower amount. They are sometimes willing to take less just to close it out. You would need to document everything in writing if a settlement is agreed to so than can not claim that you have any future liability. I don't know if you owe the Michigan Gas Utilities company, but if so, they do have a parent company (Integrys Group, Inc.) whom you should contact - see the link below for contact information-
https://accel.integrysgroup.com/secure/ssl/contact.aspx
Your state may have a utilities commission that regulates these type of erroneous billing practices. Look in your local directory.
As for your concern about reporting, if you are the guarantor of the account and they have access to your SS#, some collection agencies may elect to report the debt to the credit agencies. If this occurs you may be able to have a licensed credit repair agency dispute the claim and possibly have it removed.
I wish you the best in getting this resolved.If you found this advice helpful, please take a moment and provide a rating of this answer so others may benefit as well.
