collection agency - RE*ARDEd!

[CouponCollect]

ok we have this toll highway where i live - it scans your license plate as you guy by and they send you a bill in the mail -- the price is something like $0.15/mile plus a buck a time if you don't have a transponder... NEways -- I drove about 4 miles on the hwy about 8 months ago.. guess i forgot to pay the $2 bill or whatever it was and now I've got a collection agency harrassing me day and night for $55 for my $2 trip!!! they say they're going to damage my credit rating and might put a lien against personal property -- i think that's bullsh*t -- butwhat should i do?? these guys are driving me nuts!

 

[stonythug]

I hate to say it, but it's really easy for companies to screw over your credit rating. I'd get ahold of them right away and try to see if they'll let you pay the original $2. If not, $55 may be worth saving your credit rating. It totally sucks, but it would still be cheaper than getting a lawyer or something, and if your credit is jacked up, next time you buy a car or a house you'll end up paying a lot more due to a higher interest rate.

 

[Dameon]

Yep.... 55 bucks is a drop in the bucket in the long term. It may seem like extortion, but if they screw up your credit rating, you WILL pay more. And just a quarter of a percent difference on the mortgage will easily cost you more than 55 bucks.

 

[Frenchie]

As an attorney specializing in collections, the posts here are correct. They can very easily effect your credit. Best thing to do is to either pay it off or request a breakdown of the $55. If it looks legit., pay it.

Any other questions, and u can PM me.


P.S. They cant call u outside of 9am - 9pm.

 

[fragarific]

A $.17 charge from AT&T turned into over $2.00 after one month. I then payed it. I'm not sure about your situation though.