City Of Philadelphia: Don't Wait To Be Transferred To A Collection Agency

Press release from the City of Philadelphia:

Fatoumata Fofana-Bility

September 23, 2021

The Department of Revenue encourages City taxpayers with overdue account balances to settle those debts in time. If you delay paying off your past-due tax and water bills, we will transfer your account to a collection agency.

The City currently works with nine private collection agencies authorized to collect debts on its behalf. Once your debt has been transferred to a collection agency, you must work directly with the agency to pay your overdue bills. We will always notify you before referring your account to one of the City’s authorized collection agencies listed below:

Don’t wait

These agencies may use phone calls, emails, letters, and court actions to collect money owed to the City. But you can avoid this if you settle your debts right now or apply for help. We offer many assistance programs and payment plans for taxpayers and water customers. You may even qualify for an Offer In Compromise, if a payment agreement is not enough to cover your debt.

What to do

If you are unsure whether the agency contacting you is one of Revenue’s authorized collection agencies, you can go to Collection agencies | Service | City of Philadelphia to verify.

Keep in mind that these agencies will only contact you after our own attempts to collect balances fail. The Department of Revenue will notify you about a collection agency referral before it happens.

What to expect

Collection agencies contacting on the City’s behalf will not threaten you. But they will need to verify they’re talking to the correct person. As such, they may ask for the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN), your Employer Identification Number (EIN), date of birth, client ID, property address, or phone number.

You have the option to make payments to the collection agency or the City. The agencies allow you to make payments online, by mail, or over the phone. Paying online is safe, and the easiest way to settle City debts.

Referrals to a collection agency from the City will not affect your credit score. However, a referral could increase the size of your debt. Don’t wait to be transferred to a collection agency.

This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.