10/9/2005
Advice from Nashville's leading Financial Aid Advisor Dave Ramsey
Dave Says
By Dave Ramsey
Author of:
Financial Peace and
The Total Money Makeover
"Being harassed by an agency about a paid bill!"
Dear Dave,
I am being harassed by a collections agency about a bill that I paid in full ten years ago. I called the bank to get a copy of the transaction, but because it’s so old they cannot get a clear copy from the microfilm and the collections company would not accept it as proof. I just can’t see paying the same bill again, but I don’t want to mess up my credit record. What should I do?
Theresa via email
Dear Theresa,
Call this collections company back and tell them you’re going to sue them, turn them over to the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint with the consumer affairs division in your state. Then, I’d call the bank and tell them to make as many copies as it takes of that transaction until you get one that’s readable. You’re paying them for this service, so you deserve to get something useful out of the deal.
Now the real fun begins. Once you get a legible copy, go cram it down that collector’s throat! They know you don’t owe the money, Theresa. These guys figure if they harass you enough, you’ll pay the money anyway. You’ve got to solve the problem. Until you do, it will never go away.
- Dave
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