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Thread: Help! Bad Debt on Credit Report...That I Never Knew Existed

  1. #1
    Member CleoF9's Avatar
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    Default Help! Bad Debt on Credit Report...That I Never Knew Existed

    A couple years ago I went out of the country for a few months. Before leaving, since I wouldn't be returning to that apartment, I paid/closed all the utility accounts. Or so I thought. About 6 months ago I randomly checked my credit report (for the first time ever, thanks to SW) and saw that one of the companies had written off a small amount as bad debt.

    I never received a phone call or letter from the utility company or a collections agency, so I had no idea there was a remaining balance and I owed anything. All my mail went to my parents house while I was gone so they would have let me know.

    Today, after all that time, I received a call from a collection agency to pay the balance...is that even legal since it's already been written off? Anyway, I hung up with them, immediately called the utility company and paid the balance.

    When I discovered this 6 months ago I sort of caved in and thought "Shit happens" but I'm furious all over again that this is on my credit report. I know I should have paid this when I found out but I thought I didn't have to pay since it was bad debt and I was just plain fucked.

    Can I dispute this with the reporting agencies? What documentation would be useful to prove my case? Thanks for any advice.

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    Default Re: Help! Bad Debt on Credit Report...That I Never Knew Existed

    Do you have proof that you closed out the account, before they sent you to collections? Do you have any of your bills that says, $0 balance due or a receipt that you paid it. That is the only way you will get it off.

    Otherwise you have to wait the 7 years to get it off and if its a utility, that looks really bad on your credit.

    Plus you already paid the utility company, but you can write a letter to all three credit bureaus and tell them you never received any collection letters regarding this alleged debt or say you didn't own them and they will investigate it. If they don't get any response back within 30 days or proof that you owed the debt, they will take it off your credit report. Actually you can just go online and do it all. I went through the freecreditreport.com(I cancelled the membership before 30 days) It worked for some of my stuff.

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    Member CleoF9's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! Bad Debt on Credit Report...That I Never Knew Existed

    thank you!!!

    i'm going to start with freecreditreport.com and will also try to get proof that i closed the account. there were so many problems with that particular utility company and my building that i'm sure i can wrestle something out of them. thanks again!

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    Default Re: Help! Bad Debt on Credit Report...That I Never Knew Existed

    Ugh, I've had a terrible time with some of the credit bureaus - they won't take things off easily without proof. I still have a $2 debt on my account that was from a mass fraud of credit card applications processed in other peoples names. I was sent a letter from the company that their computer were hacked into, but they are now out of business and the credit bureaus refuse to remove it. So the $2 debt and no one to even pay it to!

    Good luck is all I can say!
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