Who do I pay when I get two different debt collectors trying to collect the same debt??

Question

On the 17th of July I received a settlement offer from a collection agency that I had sent a settlement letter to the week before. The are asking for the payment on or before the 30th of July. I was planning on making the payment today. However, I just checked my mail and saw that I have another collection agency trying to collect on the same debt and their offer is 100 bucks higher than the first. Since the date has not expired on the first offer can I pay them? Or do I need to pay the most recent agency? I tried the online payment of the first offer and it says I can not make an online payment at this time.

Answer 1

sounds like your account got sold.

call the 2nd agency and make sure they have the collect account # and everything. See how long they have owned the debt.

People get confused when their debts are sold because legally all the company needs to do is mail you. Most of the time the piece of mail is in a plan envelope and gets tossed aside as junk mail.

Also, the 1st agency may not know its been sold, why? because many times who owns the debt, outsources it having other companies collect. There can be a failed of commuciation with selling of accounts. Bad business here.

Hats off to you for making sure your debt will be taken care of even with the change of angencies!

Answer 2

You should contact the original creditor and find out who they sold your debt to.  Then contact that creditor and make sure they haven't sold off your debt to someone else, and assuming they haven't pay them.  For the other creditor, you have 30 days to dispute the collection and if you do it within that time they are required to show you proof of how they can collect on your debt.  Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I would pay the first collection agency the amount they requested. After that payment goes through the second company may not try to contact u again.Worse case scenario you have to pay the additional 100 bucks.

Answer 4

Hi,

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Answer 5

Contact Dave Ramsey- this guy can totally help you! He's a Christian financial peace counselor.

Answer 6

i would call the original debt collector and see if they can tell you what is going on.

Answer 7

I'd say call them up and ask them. They've got to have a number you can call, either on mail statement you received or online. Call 'em up and explain the situation to them. Explain that you want to pay but that you are not sure which collection agency to pay, and that you refuse to pay twice. Also, ask them why you can't pay online anymore.

If you can't get anywhere with one, try the other. if neither of them work, I'd say call up a financial lawyer... many times they have free consultations.

Good luck!