I would love any input you might have, even though you are not my lawyer. Four years ago my husband moved out and left me with his unpaid medical bills. Since the debt was incurred while we were married and living together, we were legally considered co-debtors. He told me had worked out a payment plan and I didn't find out otherwise until we were separated and subsequently sued. I was able to settle this debt, but my savings was wiped out (while we were married we had a his, hers, and ours system of money management). As part of the divorce settlement I was granted a judgment totaling $5000 + 10% annual simple interest. He signed off on this and didn't contest the amount. [more inside]
posted by littlegreenboat on Sep 23, 2009 - 4 answers

Apparently, I owe a blockbuster debt of $38 to a collection agency. I feel I've been screwed but that is irrelevant. I just want to pay the debt and never do business there again. The problem: The agency called last month when I was traveling, I didn't want to deal with it then, and now I've lost their number. How can I find out what collection agency they sent me account to and pay this debt off? Note: I have asked at the store and the employee told me, "the collection agency will call you back"...
posted by mikeo2 on Jan 14, 2009 - 9 answers

I got an automated call from a debt collection agency which told me to pay through eBay. Is this a scam? [more inside]
posted by ambulatorybird on Jan 7, 2009 - 9 answers

1099 for outstanding debt ?? My company owes a vendor a few thousand dollars - since they have very little money and because they dispute the exact amount of the debt, they are stretching the issue out as long as possible and avoiding the debt collector's calls etc. Now the debt-collection company has left a message demanding a IRS form 1099 be submitted (to the IRS) to record the 'unearned income'. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 - 6 answers

My friend was served by a collection agency. She owes the money but doesn't have it. What's she do now? [more inside]
posted by b_thinky on Apr 23, 2008 - 3 answers

Is a company required to make a good faith effort to collect on a debt before reporting it as charged off? Do I have any recourse for my credit report? [more inside]
posted by 0xFCAF on Jan 7, 2008 - 4 answers

Succumbing to Extortion Filter: How should I pay back a debt I don't really owe, to a collection agency that's been hounding me for years, to make sure it doesn't appear on my record? More inside. [more inside]
posted by prophetsearcher on Oct 1, 2007 - 9 answers

How can I prank this evil debt collection company? [more inside]
posted by gum on Aug 9, 2007 - 41 answers

What is the best method to resolve this debt? Is it possible to have it removed from my credit history entirely? [more inside]
posted by doomtop on Jul 6, 2007 - 17 answers

I stopped my Bell DSL account several months ago (2-3) because I realized I hated their company and their service. Just today I get a bill from a "Financial Services" office saying I have to pay 200$, but I never got any bill! What can I do? [more inside]
posted by Napierzaza on Jun 21, 2007 - 9 answers

Help me with my pseudo-sister-in-law, and the debt that keeps her living here... [more inside]
posted by tkolstee on Nov 28, 2005 - 9 answers

Can a collection agency reopen a nine year-old unpaid debt? [more inside]
posted by letitrain on Oct 12, 2005 - 13 answers

Can collections agencies reset the clock? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by nakedcodemonkey on Jul 12, 2004 - 2 answers