Collection Agency

Last night I got home and Ryan told me I was sent to collections for not paying our newspaper bill. Of course, this put me in a tizzy. Here are the background details and then the phone conversation I had with a rep from said newspaper.

Fact:
-We only get the Sunday paper
-Somehow, we always start to receive the Saturday, Friday, Thursday, you get it, all but Monday paper which we do NOT read. It sits outside until it makes a trip to the recycle bin.
-We quit the paper a while back for the same reason.
-November I received a bill and didn't pay it. I wrote on it "Do not pay, cancelling because we only want Sunday service."
-In the past, if you didn't pay in advance, they quit your service.
-I save all my paid bills in a folder. Ryan likes to harass me for this. Now he is glad I saved them because I had tangible evidence with dates.
-I receive calls weekly from the same paper and politely tell them I have cancelled my service and am not interested.
-Bill from the collection agency did not match the bill I receive in November.

Phone conversation:

Agent: Good morning, thank you for call X newspaper. How may I help you?

Erin: Hi, I received a notice stating I was sent to collections. I thought I cancelled my subscription in November.

Agent: What day ma'am?

Erin: Bill was dated November 2, around that date.

Agent: Let me check your account. I see you expired on November 16th and we sent you to collections on January 29th. I will take care of this for you.

Erin: Ok, does that mean I still owe money? How do I clear this up with the collection agency?

Agent: You pay them the $14 you owe.

Erin: Ok, why is the amount they are collecting on different than the bill I received?

Agent: Are you interested in renewing your subscription with us?

Erin: No, I wasn't happy with your service and you sent me to collections. I am not interested in renewing my subscription.

Agent: Ok, let me adjust your account. You now owe $6.99.

Erin: Alright. Do I pay that amount and the collection agency will know this is accurate?

Agent: You can pay me by credit card now and I will follow up with the agency.

Erin: One moment while I grab my credit card.

Agent: What number is that?

(Mind you...I haven't made it up from my chair to grab it yet.)

Erin: One second, I am grabbing it now. It's a visa.

We go through the payment process.

Erin: May I have a confirmation number and your name?

Agent begrudginly passes the info over. Then ends the call with the sales pitch and thanking me for my service. I put my money on receiving a call tonight asking if I want to renew my subscription.