My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: FL
Hi,
Yesterday I was extremely shocked to find out that my application for federal plus student loans has been declined due to an account in collections. I have always paid each and every bill meticulously and was more than sure that my credit history is excellent. After the news I checked my credit reports and 2 of them were great (Trans Union and Experian) but on the Equifax report there was an account in collection - a medical bill for $80 from FL. It says that the account was assigned to the collection agency in April 2009 and reported in August 2009. It also says that the first delinquency was in December 2008. I had no knowledge of this bill at all. Never received a letter or a phone call. In March 2009 I moved to NY, but I changed my mailing address in the US post service, did everything the right way and my cell phone number was still the same. I am frustrated that I have to wait until Monday to deal with the whole situation. I already initiated a dispute on the Equifax's website, but that would take up to 45 days and I have to pay my summer semester by April 25. I am really upset that I wasn't made aware of the bill (if it's mine at all) and that the Federal loans processors declined my application for a $80 bill after nothing but perfectly clean credit history. I don't understand why nobody tried to contact me. Somehow the creditors of my ex-husband are able to track me to NY and send his bills to my address (and we've been divorced for 5 years - he lives in OH), but I wasn't contacted for $80 that I supposedly owe?!?!?!
I'm planning to call the collection agency tomorrow and request that they verify the debt. Are they required to prove attempts to contact me? What can I do in this case? Please, any advice is appreciated. I'm stressed because of the time pressure for my tuition payments but I also feel like I was treated very unfairly.
Thank you!

