I have a rental property in XXXX that was empty for a short period of time in XXXX 2015. The utilities were supposed to never be transferred in my name ( due to an incoming tenant ) but apparently were because XXXX XXXX billed utilities to my account. XXXX XXXX has both my phone number, email, and address but I received no calls, no emails, no letters at my address in XXXX and the tenants have stated they received no letters for bills or collection notices in my name. 

On XXXX XXXX, a derogatory remark hit my credit. I called within the hour to XXXX, who directed me to the debt collection agency. I still have not verified the debt is valid ; however, given that despite having my phone number, email, XXXX and XXXX address -- - and no notification being received on my behalf, I would pay a legitimate debt owed within the hour of notification, but I need the derogatory remark removed since I was never informed of this debt. 

The debt collection agency claims they mailed letters to my XXXX address ( however, both my tenants have affirmed they never received any mail in my name ), and I even pointed out they had my email and phone number and could have contacted me. They did not care, claimed that regardless what I said or what I did, they put a letter in the mail and they would not be removing it from my credit report. 

I have never even paid late on a single bill that I have been notified of, let alone had something like this happened. If XXXX XXXX or the collection agency had conducted any level of due diligence into proper notification ( utilizing email, phone #, multiple addresses ), and notified me that I owed them money and why this would have been paid and settled within hours. 

This should not be on my credit nor remain on my credit report as a derogatory remark given the circumstances ; however, the collection agency has notified me that regardless what evidence, what information I provide, or what I can prove they will not remove it from my credit. 
The company 's phone number is ( XXXX ) XXXX, the lady that I 've mostly spoken with is XXXX.