collections bill

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 01:21 PM

hi
i am working on taking care of any past due bills...

almost a year ago i cancelled directv because we battled for a year that we didnt have use of the tv in our family room...the services woudlnt stay on, the picture puzzlled constantly so we watched tv in our bed room at night and that was it...

well they sent me a bill for the month services...i told them it needed to credit for not having use of the tv...it got to the point of us getting cut of because i refused to pay full price for service they couldnt give us.

i offered to give 100 out of 180.00 to turn it back on they said no..i said come get your equipement...at this point we had some HORRID customer service..i mean one guy wouldnt give his name got into a heat argument with me then my husban hung us and then disconnected us..

so anyways the next morning i took my money and ordered comcast.

directv was cancelled but they wanted 140.00 for the bill..i told them to eat it because the services would not supplied im not paying it..they were going to charge the card on file so i reported the card lost and they couldnt get the money...sneaky on my part i know...anyways i started getting a bill for the the 140.00 i called tried to talk to customer care got no where call corporate and got the vp's assistant and try to explain as nicely as i could why i would not pay it..her response was you watched tv in the bed room we gave you service..umm,...no i offered half she said all..so i hung up..

now im getting a collectors bill from an attorneys office whos added 100.00 in fees...can i fight this?????..i havent contacted anyone yet

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-11-2010, 01:34 PM

What a bunch of scumbags. The collection agency, I mean. The extra fees are bogus, you do not have to pay them. They will try to harass and threaten you into it though. It is just scare tactics. You ONLY owe the amount of the past due debt.

They may be willing to "settle" for a portion of the debt you owed the cable company.

There are numerous websites about debt collection and fair practices. Look some of them up and do some reading. Pay attention to laws for your state. When you have educated yourself you will be better able to negotiate with this "lawyer" and collection office.

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 01:35 PM

it says its attorney fees..does that make a difference

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-11-2010, 01:41 PM

Not unless you hired them. Adding fees is a violation of the fair debt collections act.

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 01:46 PM

any advice on how to fight it...or should i just pay the debt and include a letter that they cant charge additional attorney fees

**Josephhgoins** · 02-11-2010, 02:29 PM

Did you have two seperate tv boxes or just one?

If just one, you owe the full amount.

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 02:33 PM

we had 3 or 4

**McD** · 02-11-2010, 04:25 PM

Had you called them about the lack of quality/reception prior to getting the bill? I know our cable company will only credit for service disruptions if they are notified that we are having difficulties as soon as they occur, not after the billing cycle. Their reasoning is that if we don't notify them of the problem, we don't give them a chance to correct the problem.

Anyways, I would definitely read up on the Fair Debt Collections Act. The best consumer is an educated one. Good luck.

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by MrsMcDowell

Had you called them about the lack of quality/reception prior to getting the bill? I know our cable company will only credit for service disruptions if they are notified that we are having difficulties as soon as they occur, not after the billing cycle. Their reasoning is that if we don't notify them of the problem, we don't give them a chance to correct the problem.

Anyways, I would definitely read up on the Fair Debt Collections Act. The best consumer is an educated one. Good luck.

yes for MONTHS they had been out repeatedly..work on it 5 minutes stay 5 minutes it would work alright..within a few minutes of them leaving it would mess up again..

**McD** · 02-11-2010, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by sahm2boys

yes for MONTHS they had been out repeatedly..work on it 5 minutes stay 5 minutes it would work alright..within a few minutes of them leaving it would mess up again..

Ugh. That sucks. I wonder if DirectTv would send you a copy of your account records--all the maintenance visits, etc. If they would, I think that could be used to help you out.

**2ndGenGranola** · 02-11-2010, 07:51 PM

Can't you fill out a Better Business Bureau complaint for something like this? Write your letter. Make it clear and unemotional. (I love reading complaint letters online-tend to side with the ones listing facts w/o immaturity and/or emotion)

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

Can't you fill out a Better Business Bureau complaint for something like this? Write your letter. Make it clear and unemotional. (I love reading complaint letters online-tend to side with the ones listing facts w/o immaturity and/or emotion)

would that cause them to possibly terminate the bill

**sahm2boys** · 02-11-2010, 09:30 PM

ok filed a complaint on the BBB

**2ndGenGranola** · 02-12-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by sahm2boys

would that cause them to possibly terminate the bill

It could or at least drop it to where you requested. Basically they are charging you for a service you didn't receive. At least now they know you are serious about things. Good luck.