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[SSGMUN10000]

So today I received 2 collection notices from Cingular. One for the amt of $594 and the other for $406. It kinda stumped me because I just recently migrated from ATT to Cingular in Dec '04. I just finished talking to customer service and she had hard time finding those past due amts. She finally found them and mentioned that those accounts were started in 2000. She gave me the old numbers attached to the accounts which are different then the ones now. She mentioned that it could be fraud. Slowly but surely it hit me that I actually did owe this to a previous cell carrier here in Houston. What Im thinking is that Cingular swallowed them up and now they want to collect that money. So should I just play dumb and hopefully they will clear it or should I own up to it? One of the accounts was owned by my bitch ex who I sorta still have contact with. Now if I do have to pay should I call her ass up and ask for money? Give me your infinite wisdom GAF.

 

[NLB2]

I don't know if you should try not to pay or not, but if you do, make bitch pay it.

 

[gblues]

Best thing to do is to see if these collection amounts are on your credit report. If they are, you might as well pay up--unless you don't mind never being able to buy a house.

Nathan

 

[SSGMUN10000]

I don't know if you should try not to pay or not, but if you do, make bitch pay it.

Your right I should make her pay. This collection thing is just a reminder on how much of a bitch she was to me.

 

[LakeEarth]

I'd keep acting dumb until they catch you. If they ask, you can claim you didn't realize Cingular took over that old cell company.

 

[Escape Goat]

They'll figure it out.

 

[mrmyth]

They'll figure it out.

They've already figured it out, hence the collection notices.

 

[xsarien]

Sort it out as soon as possible. Ignoring will just do more damage.

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Best thing to do is to see if these collection amounts are on your credit report. If they are, you might as well pay up--unless you don't mind never being able to buy a house.

Nathan

Your right I should check to see if this is on my credit report. Im just a little peeved that these collection bills werent coming until I switched over. I was fine with ATT. I guess sooner or later this shit was going to catch up with me.

 

[gblues]

Your right I should check to see if this is on my credit report. Im just a little peeved that these collection bills werent coming until I switched over. I was fine with ATT. I guess sooner or later this shit was going to catch up with me.

You mentioned the phone was for an ex-gf? Was the account in your name or hers? If it's in her name, SHE IS LIABLE NOT YOU. What you should do in this case is provide up-to-date contact information for your ex-gf.

If it's in your name, you may as well pay it. You're liable. And you probably just got contacted because the computer found an old collections account that got flagged when you started new service. Someone saw "hmm, two accounts.. name name, same address. *escalate to collections*"

Which means if it's not on your credit report yet, it will be. Unless it's not actually in your name, then sic the collectors on her bitch ass.

Nathan

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Its been been about 5 yrs so I dont really remember how I did it. I know its under my credit but I remember her being billed for her number. So it would be cool if I can have them send her the collection notice. She's kinda on the dumb side, maybe I can just tell her that her notice is coming to me and collect the money from her. She would prefer that than me giving them her new address and number.

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Damn thats what I get for switching to Cingular. I just spoke to the fraud dept. about this. They dont want to overturn this because that old info matches my current info. She also mentioned how it was from previous carrier Houston Celluar. I hate calling my ex but Im going to have to now and demand some money. So how do I deal with a collection agency? Ive heard that you can make an offer for like half the amount you owe and just pay that. Is that true?

 

[B'z-chan]

Damn thats what I get for switching to Cingular.

So how do I deal with a collection agency? Ive heard that you can make an offer for like half the amount you owe and just pay that. Is that true?

i know how you feel man i know how you feel.

You can state your current circumstances, and they might be willing to settle for lower than what you owe. But dont bet on it. Good luck and if its just as much her fault make her pay up for the amount and walk away with some money if you can get them to lower it.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

get the bill and tell your ex, try your damndest to get the money off her, then try and dodge the bill for all you are worth. If you have to pay it, pay it.

best case scenario is you profit from your ex though

 

[SSGMUN10000]

I just talked it over with a friend and she just mentioned something that I didnt think about. After 7 years this debt she be cleared from my credit. Its already close to 6 yrs why not wait it out another year and I should still collect money from my ex.

 

[Luscious LeftFoot]

If the debt is still with Cingular and you don't pay, they may write it off to a 3rd party collection agency.

You don't want those dudes calling you.

 

[robochimp]

I just talked it over with a friend and she just mentioned something that I didnt think about. After 7 years this debt she be cleared from my credit. Its already close to 6 yrs why not wait it out another year and I should still collect money from my ex.

It doesnt quite work that way though. Its an active debt and as long as it isnt getting paid its going to keep on taking a knock at your credit score

Say you had a stretch where you were late with a bunch of payments.( you still paid them though) that would wipe off of your credit report eventually

 

[gblues]

Its been been about 5 yrs so I dont really remember how I did it. I know its under my credit but I remember her being billed for her number. So it would be cool if I can have them send her the collection notice. She's kinda on the dumb side, maybe I can just tell her that her notice is coming to me and collect the money from her. She would prefer that than me giving them her new address and number.

Don't guess or remember. Ask. If the name on the account is hers and not yours, YOU ARE NOT LIABLE. Don't lie to them, say she's an ex-gf that you agreed to pay for while you were together (hence why the billing info matches yours) but that you've split up.

However, if you're the one who signed the contract with the original cell company, you're on the hook for the bill. You're better off trying to get the money out of your ex-gf--you might even have a chance in small claims, but IANAL.

Nathan

 

[maharg]

Damn thats what I get for switching to Cingular. I just spoke to the fraud dept. about this. They dont want to overturn this because that old info matches my current info. She also mentioned how it was from previous carrier Houston Celluar. I hate calling my ex but Im going to have to now and demand some money. So how do I deal with a collection agency? Ive heard that you can make an offer for like half the amount you owe and just pay that. Is that true?

I doubt they'd take a consumer proposal for such a tiny amount of money. Consumer proposals are only worth it for them if you're at risk of bankruptcy, and they're not going to think you are for this. You should probably just pay it. Ask them if they'll take it in installments, and try and get on your ex to pay her part.

 

[goodcow]

People saying just pay it have to realize $1100 is nothing to just cough up.

 

[Space Age Playboy]

This sounds like a job for...

...Judge Judy!

 

[maharg]

People saying just pay it have to realize $1100 is nothing to just cough up.

Considering the alternative to making a best faith effort to pay it off (which would include looking into installment payments) is to have his credit utterly destroyed and have a 3rd party collection agency threatening to remove his limbs, it really doesn't matter if it's nothing to cough up or not. Unless he wants to go into bankruptcy protection over that, which would do just as much to damage his credit.

So easy or not, it's what he's got to do.