I discontinued service with XXXX XXXX ( original creditor ) in XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX made no attempt to contact me about a past due balance prior to selling the account to Associated Credit Service, a collection agency. I did not become aware of the debt until noticing the collection account for {$340.00} on all three of my credit files. Associated Credit did not inform me prior to posting the derogatory information in my credit files. According to the date listed in XXXX, the collection information was posted over 60 days ago with no contact from Associated during that time. I offered to pay the balance to XXXX XXXX if they could remove the collection but was told they could do nothing about it except updating the account as paid however XXXX XXXX can remove the negative information. XXXX XXXX claims that they sold the account off to Associated and are no longer responsible for any collection activity. 
I paid the {$340.00} balance to Associated Credit and asked that the negative information be removed a second time. Again my request was denied and I was told that XXXX XXXX would need to take action. 
The account they are collecting for was included in bankruptcy filed in XXXX XXXX and discharged XXXX XXXX. It is somewhat a grey area weather or not the balance was even collectable as at the time the bankruptcy was filed a balance was owed on the account but payments were continued to maintain electric service. A new account number was never issued.