Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in New Jersey

Re: Collection agency notice for debt that doesn't exist

First, send a certified letter to the collection agency stating that you dispute the debt. Tell them that the utility company has stated that there is no amount owed. Second, get the utility company to send you a letter stating that you do not have any balance due and that there is a records mixup. Send that letter by certified mail to the collection agency. Third, order a copy of your credit report from the three major credit agencies. Make sure that the charge does not appear. If it does, follow the procedures to dispute the debt with the credit report company. Send them copies of the certified letters that you sent to the collection company. That should do it. As far as a contigency - what would the contigency be? You want to pay only if the matter is resolved? That isn't how this area of the law works. Save yourself some money by doing it yourself. It's not worth paying a lawyer unless you have major credit problems or if you have exhausted all of your personal efforts (see above). Good luck!