I Owe Different Amounts According to Different People

**brewejl** · 12-06-2011, 01:43 PM

My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Alabama

I have been turned over to collections. I have received nothing in writing telling me that I was turned over or what it is I owe. The only reason I know I was turned over is because they called my mother and and then me. Supposedly the collection company sent it Nov 21 but it is now Dec 6 and I have received nothing. In addition, the company who turned me over said they turned me over for one amount and the collections company says I owe five times that amount. I know they add a collection fee and taxes and such, but they told me the originating amount was four times as much as the company who turned me over. So I have told collections I dispute the charge.

So my question is should I wait until I receive something in the mail or should I act now and send the collections company a dispute letter? I don't want to miss my window of opportunity because I know I only have 30 days.
Also, should I notify anyone else, such as a government agency, that I am disputing this charge?

**Mr. Knowitall** · 12-07-2011, 06:48 AM

If you don't bother to make a timely request for debt verification, you'll lose the opportunity. So do it.

No government agency cares, at this point, that you are disputing the charge. It's a civil matter.

**brewejl** · 12-07-2011, 10:15 AM

Thank you very much. I will request it this week.

Realizing I am completely ignorant of these proceedings I must ask, if I don't report the dispute to anyone other than the collections agency, how exactly am I disputing the case? Is it not just me telling them no I don't owe you that?

**Mr. Knowitall** · 12-07-2011, 10:22 AM

You're disputing the debt with the collection agency.

If you can find a government entity that cares that you disagree over the amount owed, complain away.