If a bill goes to a collection agency, it that the same as if it is a civil court?

No, it merely mean the original creditor sold all of their right, title and interest in your debt to a collection company, or entered into an agreement where the collection company would receive a percentage of proceeds collected.

The collection agency then has the right to sue you in Civil Court, if you do not enter into a repayment agreement if they can prove you own the debt.

The matter will show up as a negative mark on your credit report.

no, you co to the ca when and aft the suit has been to court

Not neccessarily when a colection agency is called in usually it costs less for the issuer rather than going through the court system which could take some time using an agency is usuallly quicker however the actions of some agencies can be dubious

No..most likely it will float around the collection agencies of the world for many years...very, very rarely are they taken to court.

no, but the collection agency will call you forever!

No...unless the lawyer for the agency files a suit. Then, you get served with a complaint which you should answer. If you answer, you will go to civil court to plead your case. If you fail to answer the complaint, the agency will get a Judgment by default. That means they can then attach your wages, property or bank accounts. All this, of course, if you don't pay the bill. If you lose, you will have to pay court cost on top of the amount of the bill. But, this is California Law...could be different in other states.

NO...but, you can bargain to pay 30 to 40 % less with a collection agency. Who for the most bought your debts for pennies on the dollar.

I'm not sure what CW L said. The answer is ..no. Collection agencies only have one thing in mind. Their percentage of what they can collect. If you are subpoenaed to civil court..it means someone has sued you. You might have to go.

No - it's actually worse.

I recently got a new credit card, but in the process of applying, an old bogus bill, that was never mine to begin with came up - and it knocked my credit score down like 10 points.

The bill was from 2001 - BUT - by applying for and getting the new credit card, the collection agency sold the "debt" to another collection agency which makes it a "new" debt. So it goes on and on.

So now I have to go through the whole routine of disputing the charges all over again. (It was a telephone bill that a VERY ex girlfriend got in my name without my permission - blah blah blah).

Collection agencies and the slime that work for them are quite possibly the lowest forms of life on earth. Right next to polititions and priests.

Courts CAN attach your wages, but it has to be a pretty serious bill before they will do that - say a thousand bucks or more - because it costs them more to do that than the bill is worth.

Nope its just a company aquiring your debt from another agency and trying to collect it from you. If a debt does not show up on your credit report I wouldn't worry about it.