Check Before You Pay

April 15th is not only a day of weeping for those who have to pay Uncle Sam, but a day of rejoicing for those receiving a refund. Every person and business wants to separate you from this annual cash source so do not be surprised if you get a notice from a collections agency requesting that you pay a certain sum of money for a debt that you do not recall incurring. Before paying it, please read the following.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are entitled to get a free credit report from each of the following agencies:
Equifax 800-685-1111
TransUnion 800-916-8800
Experian 800-583-4080

Each agency uses a different format to present the information in your account and may show different financial information so it is a good idea to order one from each agency annually on a date that you will always remember, such as April 15th, your birthday or Christmas.

According to a friend from Bible Study, if you would prefer to streamline your credit report requests, then visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request a unified form from all agencies.

If the collection agency's debt is not listed in the credit report, it may be a scam. Please look at the following Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation webpage. Once you locate the applicable section, report the scam to the appropriate authorities.

If it is not a scam, contact both the collection agency and the holder as shown on your credit report if the contact information listed in the correspondence and in the credit report differs to insure that you are settling with the correct entity and therefore improving your credit history.

In addition, if anything on your credit history does not seem correct, contact the corresponding credit reporting agency and report the problem as instructed in that agency's credit report.