How do you Stop "Collection's," from Trying to Collect a "Bogus," Bill?

[banys]

I closed an account (World Financial) After asking how much it would be (with several late payments)
I hadn't opened bills, as I thought it was paid off - Finally, I called to get them off my back and paid the amount stated-$70.56. Evidently, a few cents of interest was left on this account...

They began charging late fees on the the "few cents" left over, even after I told them to close the account. and wrote "close account," on my last check for the $70+

They managed to add $100 more on to my "closed account"-I was doing a lot of traveling, (taking care of my dead sister's business, a mother with Dementia, trying to get her house back, it had been taken by fraud-so lats of lawyers and travel) and didn't notice these NEW additional charges. All my other bills were automatically paid on line-
I sent them (world Financial) a detailed letter, with a copy of the final check and my account showing my finances were in great shape-I could afford to pay, but the charges were wrong.., I explained about the discussion of closing the account, told them to check their recording) THEN they immediately sold this bill to collection's! I probably should have paid the $100. BUT, It was just so wrong!

What can I do? If I pay now ($250?) or even half of that....it's like admitting I was negligent..Of course, my impeccable credit has been ruined-and I might seem stubborn and foolish....? Any suggestions? Should I just pay the darn thing?

[andor25]

First mistake was not opening your mail and creating the defaulted account.

Second mistake was not getting a settlement agreement in writing from the collection agency. You have already discovered one of the problems when the collection agency sells the debt to another collection agency.

At this point, paying won't help your credit. The damage is done and will remain for the balance of the 7 year reporting period. You are dealing with less than the better collection agencies. Get everything in writing. Personallly, I would send the current collection agency a certified, return receipt letter telling them that the debt was previously paid in full and you don't owe a cent. I wouldn't even bother to send a copy of the check. Tell them to cease all contact.

They have to stop. It is very unlikely that they will sue over such a small amount, especially since you already paid and these additional charges are not exactly legit. They probably will just sell the debt to another zombie debt collector.

[otis]

Unless you have a WRITTEN statement that $X paid by date Y settled the account in full, AND proof that you paid $X by date Y, the bill is NOT bogus and the account was NOT closed. This question is an admission that you were negligent, Whatever you do, get a settlement agreement IN WRITING before you pay anything, and keep the agreement AND proof of payment for the rest of your life.

[adusa37]

Uh, newsflash: you WERE negligent. You didn't pay your full debt when you closed your account and you foolishly ignored the bills they continued to send you alerting you to the balance due.

They don't care that your life was too busy to pay attention to other responsibilities and writing a sob story letter doesn't change what you owe.

You screwed up and now you are foolish enough to let this continue to harm your credit?!? Good grief! You can get them off your back by paying them. Collections companies will always negotiate so you shouldn't have to pay the whole amount.