Ok so I'm in Ontario Canada, in 2008 my credit card defaulted. In 2009 I received an email from a collection agency asking me to pay up, or they would take me to court. (I moved and changed my number, it was the only way to contact me) I was living in another country at the time and had no idea about the 2 year limit for legal action in Ontario. Anyway they might have taken it to court, so I started making payments. The debt was about 1600 bucks. Since then I have paid over 1000 bucks off.

I recently checked my credit report and it said that this debt was owned by another company called Ak***. So when I contacted the guy who originally emailed me he said yes he is acting on their behalf. (note I didn't name the company in the question to him, and he named it to me in his reply). He did check my report, so I don't have proof I have been paying the right company.

Secondly, the original debt was about 1130, plus interest.. (the collection company added the interest themselves). Here is exactly what my credit report says:

Date Assigned: 2010-06 Account Number: *******
Collection Agency: AK*** ****** Reason:
Amount: $1,130.00 BalanceAmount: $333.00

So my question here is what does Balance amount mean? The email guy said :"Portion remaining on principal "... Does this seem right? Is it possible that the $1000 I have already paid means, my balance has been paid off?

So my questions:
1) This ´acting on behalf` business seems sketchy, should stop paying and let them take me to court?
2) Do they have a right to collect interest? It's a lot!
3) I want to argue I have paid off my balance, the $333. Again should I stop paying and let it go to court?
4) If I do let them take me to court, would it be worth it for them to go after $680 bucks?
5) do they have to first find me, before a hearing can be arranged? Because I'm far far away right now. (or does email count?)

Thanks!

Acting on their behalf means he is a debt collector, perhaps independent on commission, most collectors only make money if they collect from you.

So you contact the company that now owes the debt, and talk to them, And if you merely owe a small amount you pay it off in full.

If they take you to court, you will have a couple thousand in court and attorney fees added to what you owe