went to Verizon when our Cingular contract was up

In December of 2007 our 2 year contract ran out with Cingular. We decided to go to Verizon and called Cingular to make sure our contract was up, etc.

We switched to Verizon on 12/23 - our contract was up with Cingular on 12/17. We had opted out of monthly paper bills and always received notification our Cingular bill via email and would then log in to pay it. To make a long story very short - we were not able to log on to pay the bill since we no longer had cingular service. We called customer service and they told us that our bill was $260. Our bill should have been only a 1/2 month bill - possibly about $150. They refused to send us detail of our bill - and yes I do mean refused. Finally after fighting for a 1/2 hour they send they would send up something in the mail for $5. In 2 weeks we received a one page statement of the amount we owed with no detail.

There is no way we owe that much for a 1/2 of month of service. Even if we did I would have no problem paying it if they could just show us what the charges were for.

It has now been turned over to collections
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Go to the local Cingular office and negotiate a plan to pay and get the collection removed completely, signed, on company letterhead and, pay them. Ask for credit help.
If Cingular will not do this after talking with a manager and some effort then, pay them anyway and be done. For some reason you saw fit to argue a half months service and let the bill get that far.
Utilities have been the most troublesome type of bad credit, "I have found" to get any help on. In the end the collection was not worth the half months service right or wrong and is not hurting your credit report score.