First collections Bill, what do I do?

[starryfish]

I have never had anything go to collections before. I got a notice in the mail from my last electricity company that I owe $23.48 (from September 2014). I never received a bill in the mail (was probably sent to the wrong mailbox as I live in a brand new neighborhood and we get the wrong mail all the time) and I had email notifications of bills (and I never got one). I contacted the electricity company and they said I can pay them but it wont remove it from my credit. They told me to contact the collections company instead. So, what do I have to do to "negotiate" with them to pay this in full and get it removed from my credit? Thxs

[sunnysideup488]

If it's a first notice it hasn't been put in your credit report yet. Usually they give you 30 days to pay first.

I would pay the utility company and then call the collections agency and tell them you have paid up. They can verify.

[starryfish]

Nov 4, 2014 9:04:42 GMT -5 sunnysideup488 said:

If it's a first notice it hasn't been put in your credit report yet. Usually they give you 30 days to pay first.

I would pay the utility company and then call the collections agency and tell them you have paid up. They can verify.

Thanks. Should I just pay the collections company or no?

[M]

You should call collections and find out what to do since it's already in collections and the electric company said so. I'm not 100% sure but it shouldn't hit your credit yet since it's first notice. I had an apartment try to say I didn't pay my last months rent before moving out so collections sent me a first notice. I called collections to ask what this was about and they said it looked like I didn't pay my rent and all I needed to do was send them a copy of my cancelled check. I did that and it never showed up on my credit report.

[starryfish]

I called the collections company and they said it hadn't been reported yet. I paid it. Apparently they sent it to my old address and the bill didnt forward correctly.