[bbulkow]

Your credit score matters far less than you think.

Your credit score is maintained by a bunch of goons in a protection racket. 'Shame if anything would happen to that fine credit score, let me 'protect' it for you".

Unfortunately, there are few legal standards in this area. Any business can report that you have not paid something.

Write a letter to google's corporate address with all your evidence, enclose a literal paper check, keep a copy of everything. Point out in your cover letter that you are discharging your responsibilities especially regarding collections, and collections will be considered an illegal action. If it comes back and harms you, you have cause of action and documentation. Take whatever action is appropriate for harm (apparently arbitration can be really good for small cases like this, less hurdles, more getting the companies money).

And just don't get bent about it.

[masukomi]

> Your credit score matters far less than you think.

... uh... this is the worst financial advice i have ever heard with regards to someone living in the US.

credit scores aren't _just_ about if you get a loan or a credit card. They're used to determine if you're a safe hire. They're used when calculating your insurance rate (house / car / whatever). They're used when determining if they should rent an apartment to you.

I'm not saying these are _wise_ uses of it, but they _are_ uses of it.