Debt Collector After Money for Unordered Merchandise

[JeffK627]

National Credit Solutions is attempting to collect a debt from me on behalf of the Quality Paperback Book Club in the amount of $241.52. The problem is, I neither ordered nor received the books they're trying to collect money for.

I responded to them by Certified Mail telling them this. Their response was that they had determined that the debt was valid and I had to pay. They also tacked on interest in the meantime and are now demanding $247.00.

I called to repeat that the debt was not valid and to request that they remove it from my credit report. Their representative responded that the debt was staying on my credit report and that I could "go ahead and get a lawyer" if I didn't like it.

I think they are expecting me to give up and pay because the debt is "only" $247.00. What can I do to force them to remove this from my credit report? I have already filed a complaint against them with the FTC, for what it's worth.

I live in New Jersey btw.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

You did the right thing. Typically I've found that if you speak to a manager, tell them that you're going to make trouble for them and report them to the state attorney general. You provided the response in writing and they are in clear violation of state and federal law. If that doesn't help, ask for a fax number confirming your conversation and what you wrote here. Send that to the state AG's office in the state of this agency. I've rarely found the agencies will even think about going through any further trouble... Good luck!