genarodj asked:


I had a phone bill of $120 reported to collections. When I was advised of my debt, I paid it immediately. (I thought my bill was paid when I disconnected with this company more than 1 year ago). The collections agency then reported this bill as “paid” AFTER I had paid it. This item had not previously exsisted on my report. Is this legal?

ELWOOD

4 Responses to “if a collector reports after you’ve already paid your account is he in violation of fair credit reporting act?”

1. Jeremy Kitching on October 8th, 2009 1:09 pm

   Since it was in collections yes, this is legal. The item went to collections and is paid, so this is being correctly reported on your bureau report(s).

   Now you could ask the collection agency to delete the item from your report (or do a dispute with the bureau on which it is being reported), which they may do because you paid the item in full. But they have done nothing illegal.

2. Elle A on October 8th, 2009 8:13 pm

   I don’t know who your original debt was to, but you might try contacting that phone companies credit department.
   If your explanation is compelling and reasonable, they may be able to assist you by contacting the agency the debt was given to and requesting the negative information be removed. Good luck

3. Keith_dude on October 12th, 2009 2:09 am

   It seems odd to me that they didn’t report that you hadn’t paid, but now they are reporting that you did pay? Almost seems like what’s the point.

   I don’t think that there is much that you do. You can try disputing the item with the credit reporting agencies. If they can’t verify the item, they will have to delete it.

   I would also contact them asking them why they did what they did, and then ask them to delete it. You paid, and it seems silly to report only a paid collections item when they never reported your delinquency.

   But I think everything they did was legal.

   Good luck.

4. crazyjester9 on October 13th, 2009 1:29 am

   Unfortunately yes. All they are required to do is show the account was paid.

   I wish you would have come here earlier, as we could have advised you to negotiate a pay to delete agreement that would have kept this off your credit report.

   You do have an option though. Call the collection agency and speak to a supervisor. Be firm but polite in stating that you paid this bill immediately with the understanding it would not be reported. Tell them you showed good faith in paying the debt and as such you are requesting that they remove the listing from your credit report.

   As long as you talk to someone halfway human, they should help you. Make sure to log who/when you spoke to.

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