I need advice for dealing with a collection agency. Please help.

[The Absurdist]

Very long story short. I have a credit card that I haven't used in over a year, just show up in collections. I got a letter today saying to call this collections agency (CA) and take care of it. My guess is that the Credit Card Company (CCC) assessed me a yearly membership fee or some other BS charge, and since I wasn't using the card, and consequently forgot it existed, the account started accruing late fees and interest. As of right now, they say I owe around $350.

I called the CA and said I didn't know anything about this, and needed verification of what the charges were for, when they were placed, what the interest was being applied to, etc. They said they don't have access to the information, and told me to contact the CCC. So I called the CCC, and after a couple hours of getting the run around, the account rep told me that they don't have access to information on any account that goes back farther than six (6) months. I said you've got to be kidding, if you don't have access to this info than who the hell does?

I ws told to submit a written request for information to the corporate headquarters and that they would forward me copies of the information on the account. The guy at the CA was actually, cool and helpful, and told me to submit a request for verification, but he also cautioned me that the clock is ticking on the account and that it will continue to accrue interest even while I attempt to find out what is going on.

What is the best way to handle this situation without getting ripped off/screwed? I have done some searching around and have a debt verification letter that sounds very professional and lawyerly that I am going to send to both the CCC and the CA, via certified mail. Is there anything else I can do to protect my credit or to resolve this more effectively.

And please, no flaming about how dumb I was not to handle it earlier, I already know that. What can I do starting now to resolve this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.