If it’s not, or if it’s listed as paid or settled in full, then I wouldn’t waste any more time worrying on it.

if it is on the CR, vigorously dispute it, send a letter to assorted gov’t agencies (nothing helps a collection agent get on the ball more than hearing from the FTC, the BBB, and their state attorney general all in one afternoon) and force them to sign off on it… on your terms.

Thanks Don and Joe for your sympathy and compassion.

Yes, we finally got this resolved. After repeated phone calls, no call backs, many vengefully ignored voice-mails, and some strenuous words, I finally got through to the “boss” at the collections agency. After much frustrated back and forth, I finally began to realize that not only did the collection agency, but perhaps the government, may have me by the short hairs on this one. So, as I was venting my frustration, I remembered, as though a voice were speaking in my head, “So, you pride yourself on being a communicator, communicate with this guy!”

So, I took a breath, stepped back from the cliff-edge mentally, and took a more reasonable tone with the collections agent: “Look,” I said, “here’s the situation from my point of view. I don’t have a job, I’ve been without work since November, and I keep getting this feeling that way back two years ago when I had my accident  — caused by somebody else  —, it’s almost like everybody was winking at everybody else except me. There was nothing on the paperwork that said I’d be on the hook for some sort of storage fee, so why would I expect one later on? It’s almost like the towing company is just wringing their hands, saying, ‘This poor sucker’s going to find out that this worthless heap of junk is going to be worth $2,000 bucks one day, boy will he be surprised!’. I understand there might’ve been some sort of fine print on the notice I was to have received from the State regarding the transfer of the title, but I didn’t expect to see any fees owed to the towing company simply because there was no language to that effect on the contract I signed. This, really, is a bait-and-switch operation, at least, that’s what it’s beginning to feel like to me.”

I don’t know if what I had to say really helped, or not, but the manager suddenly said, “Okay, look, how about I offer you a ’severe hardship discount’ and we’ll call it even?”

“How much?”

“$600.”

Done.

So, I paid the $600 over the phone that day, and I haven’t heard from the collections agency since.

Which actually kind of bothers me, since I haven’t seen the paperwork in the mail that they were supposed to have sent me.

So, for all I know, I may have given some elaborate con operation $600 and I never had a real collections agency gunning for me after all.

Oh well. I don’t have the time to worry about it right now. I wish I’d thought of that before, but it only occurred to me after shelling out the money. (Sometimes so-called smart guys can be idiots.)

Rich
BlogRodent

Father Don

Peace…

Rich
BlogRodent

Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I am in a very similar situation. Praying for you!

Yes, James, I agree. I expect to get documentation next week — the burden is on them to prove it.

Regards,

Rich
BlogRodent

I would look over the paperwork you signed carefully first. If it does not mention fees, I would not give them a dime.