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Question
I am being sent collection letters and receiving collection calls for two debts that I paid over eight years ago. The first debt was paid twice! In an effort to keep up my credit. For some reason it keeps getting resold. I send a copy of the check front and back don't hear from the agency again and next thing you know here is another agency trying to collect. At this point I am tired of going through this and I refuse to pay a debt again that I already have proven that I paid. How are they allowed to do this. The second debt I paid over eight/nine years ago as well but this is the first time an agency has tried to collect again on this debt. Four/five years ago I even had the credit bureaus confirm that the debt was paid so it would show up on my credit report as paid and it was confirmed. I don't know how they can now turn around and claim I owe them something. They asked for the invoice that said I owe them $0 but I didn't keep the final bill/invoice or whatever you call the statements because I didn't know you had too. When I received them I saw that I had a zero balanced and thought nothing more of it. I threw it away. Now my only proof is the check but they are trying to say that maybe there was some interest that wasn't paid and it has accrued and now I owe them three times the original debt plus whatever else. I need some direction. I feel like I probably should contact an attorney but that is just more expense. How do I make this go away once and for all.
Keep those check copies, that is what you need to prove you paid the debt. Unfortunately you may have to hire an attorney to send a letter with a copy of your check and any other paperwork you have to the agency in order for them to stop calling you and sending you letters. It will be worth the price, once they are contacted by an attorney on your behalf they cannot, by law, contact you by phone or mail at all, they must speak only to your attorney.
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Answers by Expert:
Michelle Dunn
Expertise
As one of the Top 5 Women in Collections, one of the Top 50 Collection Professionals, and winner of the Business Excellence award, I can answer any questions about debt, debt collection, improving business credit, creating a credit policy, enforcing a credit policy and collecting on past due accounts. I can also answer questions in regards to starting a debt collection agency since I have been a bill collector for over 24 years, started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years, and maintain my 12 year old Credit & Collections Association for members of the credit & debt collection industry. I am also the author of the popular and award winning book "Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money" now on it's 3rd edition. This book has won a the Writers Digest self published award as well as the New York Book Festival Award. I am a repeat contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and have been featured on NPR, CNN, as well as many other national radio and television programs. I have also been featured in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Smart Money, MSNBC and much more. I have 17 published books to my name and am an accomplished speaker and consultant. I currently write 9 columns for newspapers, magazines and online portals worldwide.
Experience
I have over 24 years experience in debt collection, I started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years and I am the founder & owner of my Credit & Collections Association that I founded in 1998. www.credit-and-collections.com
Organizations
My Credit & Collections Association, I was also a member of the American Collectors Association and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. I am a member of many writing groups as well as my local Women Inspiring Women chapter. I am a member of Know More Media as an expert for their blog on business credit.
Publications
Business NH Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, MSNBC, CNN, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Home Business Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and website, many books, newspapers and television programs as well.
Education/Credentials
I have written 17 books in my collecting money series and one for Entrepreneur Press called the Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook. My newest book is being published by John Wiley & Sons in May titled, The Guide to Getting Paid, how to weed out bad paying customers, collect on past due balances and avoid bad debt. This book is also being sold to many colleges as a text book.
Awards and Honors
My book Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money won an award from Writers Digest and the 2007 New York Book Festival in the "How to" category. I have won 2 awards from Dun & Bradstreet and Governor Jean Shaheen. I was nominated as one of the Top 5 Women in Collections twice as well as having been selected as one of Collection Advisor's Top 50 Collection Professionals by my peers.
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