Expert: John Hall - 7/2/2006

Question
I moved from an apartment complex due to being pregnant and needing more space for all my children. I bought a house adn I told the apartment complex just send me a bill for the rest of the amount that I owed until the apartment is rented and I had to make several calls for two weeks about the final statment once I finally received teh final statement I sent a letter indicating that I would pay $200.00 per month until paid. I began my first payment in June adn I was not able to afford $200.00 per month because I will soon be off work due to the maternity leave and I didn't want to overextend myself so I sent the letter with the $50.00 to follow. I then just yesterday receive a letter from a collections agency indicating that I hav refused to make payment with the company and I have the cashed check signature. Isn't there something I can do becasue they are trying to get money from me that's already been paid?
Please if you want you can call me 810-953-0447 or my cell is 810-347-0310 I see your number at the top but I don't have long distance on my phone to call you.

Answer
Don't pay them any more.  Send them this letter.

You will have to put the right names and addresses here for the examples I have given:


July 2, 2006

Joe Knucklehead
ABC Collection Agency
Box 1234
New York, NY  00000

Re:  FAIR CREDIT REPORT ACT NOTICE; Name of the Apartment Cojplex and the account number that the collection agency has assigned to it

Dear Mr. Knucklehead:

Do not contact me further regarding this disputed debt.   You have my correct name and address.   You are directed to validate this debt iasthe above federal law requires.



Then put your name and address and sign it.   Make a copy of this letter and send the original to the collection agency by regular mail (don't even waste the $5.00 chafrge for certified mail.     I doubt you will hear from them again.  If you do, let me know and I can show you what you can do next.