Third-party collection agencies and credit?

I have read plenty of questions about verifying a third-party collection their debt was sold to, but from those situations, most people were talking about negative items popping up mysteriously on their credit. My case isn't that. I have three cell phone collections on my credit report, but there are two third-party collection agencies reporting for one cell phone company's debt, and no.. one of them does not say zero balance or paid in full. They are a month apart from their status updates. They are both for US Cellular, one is for $407 and the other is for $488. I know if I call both of these agencies they are going to turn into blood-hungry sharks and both claim I owe them and not the other, so is there any quick way of knowing which one is correct before sending validation letters? Also, I've read it's better for your credit score to establish payment plans instead of take the pay-in-full offer they give you. Is this true? All I know is send them money orders, not checking/debit car info, and make sure everything is in writing. I'm not really looking to just tell these people to screw off. I was 18 and made a couple of mistakes because a cell phone company pissed me off, and now I'm in good standing financially to take care of business. I'm sure the collections agency for the AT&T bill and verizon bill are correct, because I do owe them and the statements on my credit report match my older billing statements. I just don't know what to do about this split bill of US Cellular between two third-party agencies outside of validation letters. I left US Cellular with a bill of 200 bucks, so 400 bucks makes sense now, and I believe only one of them is correct. Is there any site about creditors' pairings with third-party collection agencies?

1 month ago - 1 answers