Complaint Review: Bay Area Credit - AT&T

I had AT&T for 6 years or so and finally decided that with a cell phone it's not worth the extra expense of a land line. I called AT&T in December of 2008 and informed them that I wanted their service cut off. They said I would still have another bill sent to me and that would be for the remainder. I agreed and a few weeks later I received their bill. However, just a few days after I received the first bill I got another bill with a different amount. I called AT&T back and said I need to know exactly what I owe, I don't want any suprises later on that I didn't pay them. I asked that a FINAL bill be sent to me including everything I owed total. They said I should get it soon. Now we are into Jan. of 09. I am awaiting my final bill so I can pay it all correctly. I get a phone call from this Bay Area Credit on my cell phone. I answer it and they say that they are a collection agency with AT&T. I explained that I have every intention of paying them but I was told I would be sent a final bill. This guy from Bay Area Credit became VERY rude and demanded I give him my credit/debit card or a checking account information to pay this. I told him that I am dealing with AT&T not him and I would pay AT&T directly once I got the bill. The amount he gave me and the amount of the bill that I got a few days later didn't even match. I sent my payment into AT&T and thought it was done. I kept getting phone calls from Bay Area credit for weeks and weeks. I explained to them over and over, I paid AT&T directly and I will only deal with them if their is an issue with my payment or account. Bay Area Credit told me it was up to me to prove to them I paid it because they didn't show any record of it. I said no it's your job to verify the debt you are collecting. These people would threaten me with lawsuits, charging my account interest... this one guy told me I was lazy and I probably didn't have a job because I wouldn't pay him any money. This is a very unprofessional company and they don't get their facts together.

Jess
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
U.S.A.