need help with bill collection on an AT&T account

[digme]

in summary, what i would like to know is what happens if i refuse to pay for a bill that i have been sent from a collection agency?

i just got off the phone with a bill collection agency (and to all those that hate, this is the only one i have).... so, i told the lady she could send a package whenever she likes to do that but i won't pay it at all... to which she promptly reminded me that my credit will be messed up
the bill is $320.99 for an exhorbitant amount of $5/min AT&T charged me for calls that my cousin (which at that time had just arrived from overseas, and was a knucklehead enough not to ask me to use the phone before dialing out to home) made to my home country. Mind you, i have already paid 120 off, so the actual bill was 440.99. He was only on the phone for 58 min

any experiences? sorry this is also a vent as i am fuming right now too...

 

[Kelvrick]

Why do you need help? You owe them that money, its like not like they're trying to screw you or something. Although $5/min is wtf high. Where was he calling?

When it happened, did you bother calling htem and seeing if they'd reduce the bill?

EDIT: That, and I think your credit has already been hit. Paying it won't help.

 

[Baked]

They will send bounty hunters to kill you and make it look like an accient. I'm dead serious.

 

[digme]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Why do you need help? You owe them that money, its like not like they're trying to screw you or something. Although $5/min is wtf high. Where was he calling?

When it happened, did you bother calling htem and seeing if they'd reduce the bill?

EDIT: That, and I think your credit has already been hit. Paying it won't help.

It was Africa...just to give you an idea what the rate should be, calling back from Africa to the US maxium is $1 or $1.50dollars (not the currency there but US dollars).... the most you could ever pay for international calls here in the US is $1. if you use phone cards it is 0.10/min or so. this happened actually 4 years ago, and at the time, i did every thing possibly that i could... I contacted FCC, BBB, Local rep, everything...not to mention the gazillions literally hours i spent on the phone with AT&T (it ain't like you get through right away when you call)..... so now, a collection agency is calling... and no, it's not on my report... NOT YET

 

[drinkmorejava]

$5/min is fscked up, but it's pretty damn clear that you owe them money. What you should be doing is getting your cousin to pay for it.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Quite simply you need to work out a monthly payment plan with the creditor after negotiating a lower bill in exchange. They will usually work with you especially after they received some payment. You have not recourse other than not paying because the phone is your responibility.

 

[KK]

This was from 4 years ago, you couldn't come up with the money in that time or are you just refusing to pay it?