I have had problems in the past so I am very knowledgable on what to do and what not do when dealing with debt and crap on your credit file. I have always kept up to date on my Equifax credit file which is in perfect shape, but never had access to TransUnion as I kept failing to answer their identification questions. They had my address wrong to begin with...

Well, I did manage to get a copy of it a few months back and was surprised to see a collection for a Superior Collections filed in November of 2005. Checked here and the net and could not find anything for them, so I filed with TransUnion to investigate as I had no clue what it was for and did not recognize the creditor name.

So TransUnion replied that the information was correct and to contact them. I still did not have any contact info for them though, but Superior was able to get my address so this week I got a letter from Superior Collections who appears to be a one office job out of Grande Prairie, Alberta where I lived in 2002. The initial collection? Here it comes now...

$4.27

The charge was for a movie rented in 2002, that was returned one day late. The collection is for a late fee, plus interest.

Well, I mailed off the cheque to the video store today and I requested a copy of my rental agreement so I can at least try to get this collection removed. I don't remember what I signed when I got a membership but the store was not a box store but a mom and pop corner store type deal and this collection agency apparently contacted all the movie stores in the area and told them they could get there late fee accounts settled. So I am highly doubtful that it gave them permission to use a third party for collections.

At first I though it was a joke, I mean who files a collection for $4.27, but then again who tries to collect it. I wouldn't care but as it stands it is derogatory information that could be on my file till 2011. Little extreme for a movie being a day late, that even to say if it really was or if it sat in the slot too long. But being from almost 5 years ago, I don't really remember.