These 'settlement offers' are at the agent's liberty, and they will try to put pressure on you to 'get the money' by a certain deadline. If they tell you 'the offer isn't valid anymore' it's because that's the way they want it, nothing else. Since you are in NF and this office handles most Maritimes accounts it is likely you spoke to one of my colleagues... if this has not been sorted out by now let me know, I can see what I can do. Just PM me if you still need help and I'll see what the account's status is.

What most likely happened is that following the e-mail your number was removed and the account put in 'dispute', which is short for 'doesn't want to pay', and the nobody bothered pursuing this further.

By the way, we don't accept Western Union payments anymore as the security wasn't optimal in any case, as you highlighted.

Lemme know if I can help,
~Masked_Agent

The debt collector I've been talking to for over a month called me on Friday to ask about repaying a bill ($800 cable bill from July 08). He was fairly nice. However, something seemed off.

I told him that I figured out a plan that I can repay the money by the 18th of February for a lower price (I did not have the funds to pay it at that moment) or I offered to make equal payments every month until the full amount was paid off. He said something like "Its best you pay it now because it will be on your credit report and it won't update for a month" I told him I didn't have the money to pay it that day and he said well if you pay it today I can get you the best price possible (from 800 to 430) or by the 31st for $500. I still told him I didn't have the money and he asked if I could borrow off someone, I said "maybe". Anyway I called my family and I couldn't get a hold of them...and I didn't want to ask anyway because my mother is ill (histiocytosis - similar to cancer). I called him back and told him I couldn't pay the money because I couldn't get a hold of my family. On top of this he was telling me I could send the money through western union after I received the written agreement (that he was going to fax) that he wouldn't put the debt on my credit report (so it would be as if the debt never occurred).

I feel like I just wanted to deal with it and rushed it a little. Anyway I called him back before the end of the day and told him I couldn't pay it that day and we'd have to talk about it on monday.

The weekend I checked my cell phone bill (the only phone I have) and my bill has gone up $30. I cant afford that, so I sent an email to the VP of the company and asked to communicate through mail or email. I also called the guy and left a voicemail explain the situation and also that I couldnt pay the bill today.

He hasn't called and I haven't received an email and I'm very worried I will get in trouble somehow. I did receive debt verification by the way and the guy seems fairly patient and polite.

I dont know what to do. If he had of accepted my offer for $500 for the 18th of feb, I would have honored that, but I feel like there is too much pressure on me to pay this bill immediately and if I don't, he will report it and won't remove it....also he wont accept my lower payment offer.

What do I do? I haven't heard from him or the VP. Should I call back even though its costing me money?? Please help.