They sent collections after me

[Pool Hall Ace]

Unbelievable.

When I first moved two years ago, I used one of those AOL CDs to access the internet until I found an ISP. I thought I had cancelled within 30 days, but AOL managed to sneak one month's charge on my credit card.

I contacted the credit card and gave them the AOL cancellation number. The charge was removed.

Fast forward to today. I received a notice from a collection agency for $23.90. Is there any particular way I should pay this (there is an option to pay online)? I have no issue with paying the $23.90, if it means they will go away.

I can't help but wonder where they have been all this time.

[datasuspect]

1. if it's in collections

it's already been charged off/sold as a bad debt (if it's a third party debt collector) so the stain is already on your credit.

you might be able to negotiate to pay and have the derog removed, but if they won't, i wouldn't pay them.

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. Oh hell no! Challenge the debt.

There are internet sites that could help you draft a letter, but I would challenge that debt and send the correspondence certified mail. Also - contact AOL and/or complain to the Attorney General's consumer protection unit.

Seriously, it's smallish charges added together that reward terrible business practices with ill-gotten profits.

And who knows? They could just keep charging you.

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. And that is my big concern! That they will keep charging me.

[Zavulon]

4. I was in your situation, but I got charged for three months...

...so I paid them all but 25 cents (in multiple checks) and chose to leave that amount of "bad" debt on my credit rating. Fuck them.

The fact that the debt got sold is bad enough, but out of sheer principle I'd rather have people looking at my credit rating and seeing AOL whine about a quarter than have a paid balance and still take the sting. Let those fucks spend a few dollars of postage trying to collect the fucking quarter. The damage is done and I can still get a car loan, so they can kiss my ass.

[Pool Hall Ace]

5. Are you saying that you can still get a car loan

because you actually have gotten a car loan?

When I cancelled with AOL, the customer service person remarked that I had hardly used it. When the $23.90 charge showed up on my credit card, I called (my credit card's) customer service and gave them my AOL cancellation number. The charge was removed. I thought that was the end of it!

I haven't even heard from AOL in two years, and now I have this letter from NCO Financial Systems (based in Delaware). You would think that AOL would have been hounding me for two years, but they haven't.

And AOL is very unspectacular anyway. I have no idea why they are so popular. And I'm sorry I ever used that "free" CD. :grr:

[Tyo]

6. You don't want a collection on your credit report

It messes with your credit scores and compounds any other dings you might have. You can fight this if you have the inclination and the energy.

Talk to someone at AOL, keep going higher and higher on the food chain. Mention your state Attorney General's office. If you truly don't owe them the $$ they can get in trouble for sending your account to collections.

Demand to see the documentation that they are basing their claim on. Send them a letter certified mail outlining your position. Let the credit rating agencies know that you are disputing this. You shouldn't have to spend a lot of money on this, but if you have a friend who is a lawyer and will give you a break on a short letter to them that often gets the job done.

I mean it's only $23.90 but even if you pay it now the collection will still be on your credit report. It would be worth the fight to get it removed, both for you personally and as a public service. AOL pulls this kind of shit a lot and will continue to do so until we start standing up to them. BTW, I understand that they are also a major contributor to the Rethugs