I have a 2001 collection for 479. What should I do?

Bo, I have always stayed on top of my credit an recently noticed an entry in the collections section of my Equifax credit report from ATT Co. I have checked all three reports, and I have zero accounts in dispute and zero late payments over my 14 year credit history. I do recall a dispute I had with AT&T 6 years ago, but had since moved, forgot about the issue, and had not since heard back from them.In the Collection section, it has the first late payment listed on 1/2001and a balance of $479.00. I don't believe this has shown up in my account before. I recently purchased a home, and my broker thoroughly checked my credit and made no mention of any collections. In the past, when I checked my reports I would always verify whether any accounts were in dispute, andif any late payments where noted. I have yet to experience either of these Since this ATT account has never showed up in my list of creditors orpayments made, is there a greater change that making payment after 6 yearswill negitively affect my credit. Should I bother negotiated since my reports still state that all of my accounts are in good standing, and that I have never been late on anything? Thank you very much for your assistance.
Real Live Person

Bo Majors
to Real Live Human Being / show details / Feb 12

You said you were approved for a home loan which I know checks all three bureaus reports. You were approved and i assume happy with a decent rate.
2001 is 1 year from falling off. Forget about it unless you are contacted before the 7 years run out. If this happens negotiate (with AT&T only) to pay only if they completely remove the errant account.

2001 Judgment for legal fees from a law firm out of business

Dear Bo,

I have a 2001 judgment for Legal Fees for substandard representation by a Law Firm that is now out of business. I am trying to purchase a home and I attempted to call the Law Firm to see if I could work out a settlement. The Law Firm has gone out of business. Can you advise me how or if this effects the judgment on my Credit Report?

Thank you so much for being there.

Real Person

Bo Majors
to Real Person / show details / Feb 9

Dispute it as not yours.
Free form on my website

I have a cloced store card. Will my score go up if I reopen the account?

Hello,

I have a closed store card, will my score go up if I reopen the account?
It is now in collections.

Yes it will. Especially if you can by pass and remove the reported collections.

vantage score verses credit scores

Great web site
Question? Is my Vantage score an average of all three credit scores or is a vantage score it's own score. Each score different and my score is 652

- Show quoted text -
----- Original Message -----
From: Bo Majors
To: RP
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: scores

Vantage scores are totally different from credit scores at the major bureaus. NO. Vanatage scores grade like school grade 60 or 600 and lower is an f. I have not seen many of these and would rely on credit scores as bankers still do. 640's plus is what works for decent rates.

On 2/7/07, Real Person wrote:
Great web site
Question? is my vantage score an average of all three or is each score different and my score is 652.

Real Person

Bo Majors
to Real Person show details Feb 7

Any of the links on my credit help pages. Just cancel in less than 30 days and they are totally free. If you are trying to update and improve keep the service open and check your score often for updates.

How do we write a letter of asking for forgiveness and help with past bad credit

Real Live Married Couple
to me
show details
Feb 6
Dear Mr. Majors,

My husband and I are currently trying to get our credit score up. We ran into financial problems when my husband lost his job 3 years ago. We tried our best to stay afloat, but after a year of so our ship finally sank. We had 2 credit cards we just could not keep up with.My question is how do we write a letter to the company asking for forgiveness. He has finally got a job to where we can pay them off and we want to but we don't know what to say in the letter or what to include in it. Please if you don't mind to help us out with this, it will be greatly appercaited.

Thank You and God Bless,

Bobby and Sue

P.s


Bo Majors
to RLMC
show details Feb 6
Just do what you said and explain you would like to re open the past bad credit account and make it good. We just want to be responsible people who honor our obligations and have a chance to buy a new home.

- Show quoted text -
On 2/6/07, Real Live Married Couple wrote:
Dear Mr. Majors,

My husband and I are currently trying to get our credit score up. We ran into financial problems when my husband lost his job 3 years ago. We tried our best to stay afloat, but after a year of so our ship finally sank. We had 2 credit cards we just could not keep up with.My question is how do we write a letter to the company asking for forgiveness. He has finally got a job to where we can pay them off and we want to but we don't know what to say in the letter or what to include in it. Please if you don't mind to help us out with this, it will be greatly appercaited.

Thank You and God Bless,

Real Live Married couple

P.s

Your website is a life saver!!



Bo Majors
to Donald
show details
Feb 6
http://www.oskie.com/credit-repair-negotiate-with-creditors-remove-delete-bad-credit-collections-charge-offs.htm

Contact Collection and they no longer have account.

Real Live Human
to me
show details
Feb 6
Mr. Majors, I am writing you because I need HELP! I had my credit report pulled. Of coarse I have somethings in collections. I contacted the company that has one of the collections. They informed me that they no longer have the account and I need to contact the Original Creditor. OK. Here's my problem. I have called that collection company today 6 times. Each time they say that they are transferring me to the department that handles the request of the removal on my credit report . They end up hanging up on me. I call back, finally a rep gives me the number to that department just in case we are disconnected. She transfers me and I stay on hold for 15 mins and they disconnected again. I called back and stayed on hold for 30 mins. This time it gave me the option to leave a message and it also gave me the fax number. I left a message and asked them to call me. What do I do now? Do I go ahead and fax a letter requesting the removal? If so what do I say? Thank you advance for your website. I need help I can get at this point.

Thank you.
Real Live Human

Bo Majors
to RLH
show details
Feb 6
if you tired that hard and they couldn't do something then.
DISPUTE IT.
use my free form and hurry. good luck

Collections is hard to talk to. Should I just dispute the collection?

Mr. Majors, I am writing you because I need HELP! I had my credit report pulled. Of coarse I have somethings in collections. I contacted the company that has one of the collections. They informed me that they no longer have the account and I need to contact the Original Creditor. OK. Here's my problem. I have called that collection company today 6 times. Each time they say that they are transferring me to the department that handles the request of the removal on my credit report . They end up hanging up on me. I call back, finally a rep gives me the number to that department just in case we are disconnected. She transfers me and I stay on hold for 15 mins and they disconnected again. I called back and stayed on hold for 30 mins. This time it gave me the option to leave a message and it also gave me the fax number. I left a message and asked them to call me. What do I do now? Do I go ahead and fax a letter requesting the removal? If so what do I say? Thank you advance for your website. I need help I can get at this point.

Thank you.
RLH

Bo Majors
to Real Live Human
show details
Feb 6
if you tired that hard and they couldn't do something then.
DISPUTE IT.
use my free form and hurry. good luck
---------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

Charge off that a made pay off and reported paid as agreed. Can I have it removed?

Hi there i have some question about this. I have a credit account that is been charge off since 2003. Now i have pay off the whole amount. They have report it to the credit report that it have paid as agree. So can i have them remove from my credit report or i have to wait 7 years for it to be remove be itself? credit score 624
thanks
RLP


Bo Majors
to Real Live Human
show details
Feb 4
Yes you have to wait. But in 2 years it will be meaingless if you have at least 3 open and current lines of credit
-----------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

My credit score are 533 535 544 and I want to get my credit score up to buy a home

hello my name is RLP and i need some help with my credit and called almost everyone i could to get some answers to no avail. I currently have very low credit scores 533 535 and 544 and want to get my credit scores up,so i can buy a home and here is my situation i have 3 charge offs with azero balance (that were paid in full) can i get them removed?i have some collections on my report also and called the creditors and askedif i pay them in full will they be removed..and they said that its not up tothem to remove it so i dont know what to do there...and second if they dontremove them should i pay them off or is it just wasting my time to pay themif there gonna stay in there i have the money in hand ready to pay but keepgettin a run around with creditors and experian,equifax,andtransunion...transunion gave me 3 different responses with 3 differentpeople so need to know what ya think thanks
Real Live Person

Bo Majors
to Real Live Person
show details
Feb 3
Your on the right track. If you cant get them removed then asked they ve marked paid as agreed and in full one credit cards or laons. with collections use a different approach.
http://www.oskie.com/credit-repair-negotiate-with-creditors-remove-delete-bad-credit-collections-charge-offs.htm

http://www.oskie.com/how-i-get-paid-collection-collections-account-removed-credit-report-completely.htm

I have a few accounts on my credit report with the wrong name. Can I get them removed?

I recently requested a credit report because of a denied lone. After reviewing the report I realized that under one of the major Credit report companies the last name on the report was different from mine, I also keep seen two different conformation numbers come up on my report (Don't understand that one), and a few accounts under the wrong name, I believe may not be mine.

1. What should be my next move.
2. Is this grounds for having any delinquent items removed from my report that may better my score.
3. If nothing is removed and my score doesn't change, will it at least give me a little more of a bargaining tool with the collection agencies, so I may have some items removed.
Reply
---------------------
Bo Majors
to Real Live Person
show details
Feb 3
i would dispute them and say they are either not mine or incorrectly reported and you you want them removed
I would also look on my credit help website for the "remove completly page" about debt validation
---------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

Cliamed Bankruptcyu in 2006 discharged in 2006 and I still have bad credit from the bankruptcy

Hi I was browsing your website, and I was wondering who you are and what you do? Do you work for Experience? There is a lot of useful information on there! Thanks
---------------------------------
Bo Majors
to Real Live Person
show details
Feb 2
I had bad credit back in 1992 and paid a dear price to get it back on track. I found the bureaus impossible, learned some tricks, then sold cars for 12 years. Credit became my life somewhat. I operate to help people who need help and are earnest, then I make money from legitimate credit offers for people that want to raise their score.
- Show quoted text -
On 2/2/07, RLP wrote:
Hi I was browsing your website, and I was wondering who you are and what you do? Do you work for Experience? There is a lot of useful information on there! Thanks
RLP
---------------
Real Live Person
to Bo
show details
Feb 2
Wow thanks for the information.

Well here is my dilemma. I claimed bankruptcy in Aug 2005 and discharged April 2006. Most of my bankruptcy was caused by bad checks. So my report had about 62 pages, and 300 accounts. I am now down to 33 pages and only 100 accounts. They were all claimed in bankruptcy it is just that the credit bureau is not updating them properly.

I sat on the phone for 2 days straight (literally) and personally called every single collection agency to make sure their system was updated before I started the disputes. They all either faxed me a letter stating waiver of debt or updated there systems. I just feel better knowing I sat down with pen and paper and took notes of every collection agency and got things resolved. All were very cooperative.

I hope this helps. I now have to wait the 30 days. Sux, cause I am trying to close on a Mortgage by April 30th, but I do not want to submit application until this is resolved. (dont want to stick the hand out to quick..rather clear these items up for better chance) Especially since I am dealing with the VA with only a year out from Bankruptcy.

I sent in all major credit bureaus disputes and documentation. I also did a few online to expedite the process. I hope that now that all Collectors actually have there systems updated that when the computer pings the collectors for disputes they will either A) not respond so it is deleted or b) update with a zero balance.

Any suggestions? Speedy tips?

Thanks Real Live Person
---------------------
From: Bo Majors [mailto:majors@oskie.com]
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 2:21 PMTo:
Real Live Person:
Re: Question
- Show quoted text -
I had bad credit back in 1992 and paid a dear price to get it back on track. I found the bureaus impossible, learned some tricks, then sold cars for 12 years. Credit became my life somewhat. I operate to help people who need help and are earnest, then I make money from legitimate credit offers for people that want to raise their score.
-------------------------------
On 2/2/07, RLP wrote:
Hi I was browsing your website, and I was wondering who you are and what you do? Do you work for Experience? There is a lot of useful information on there! Thanks
Real Live Person that works at a bank
------------------------
Bo Majors
to RLP
show details
Feb 2
sounds to me like you could teach some yourself.
Do that and see what ahappens
Make sure you have ata least three open lines of credit
good luck
--------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

Need to clean up credit. I am working with a lender who found lower scores than my free report online did

Hello Bo,
I appreciate your site.
I have been working to clean up my credit, and based on information on your site realize that I have not been taking quite the right approach.
In any case, I had been using a 3-1 credit bureau with scores to monitor progress. Well I thought I was on the right track as it reported the 3 major credit bureaus as my score being in the high 500's/ea. The highest was transunion at ~592. However, in working with a lender who received the credit reports direct from the bureaus --- found that my score was on average a delta 100 pts lower than the score from my 3-1 credit service. (Ie Transunion from my 3-1 credit provider 592 --- transunion from lender 472). I could reconcile a 10 or 20 point delta / disparity , but 100+ is very disheartening. I believe 472 was accurate in terms of where things stood a year ago, but I have done a lot to payoff issues, etc.
Thoughts? Real Live Human
----------------------------
Bo Majors
to RLP
show details
Feb 2
I would ask
1. how close are the dates from when you pulled and when the lender pulled your report.
2. did the lender pull from one bureau or all three.
3. are any of your payments even one day late
4. have you charged recently and gone over 80% debt on a loan or card
5. have any cards lowered your credit limit recently.
- Show quoted text -
-------------------------------
On 2/2/07, Real Live Human wrote:
Hello Bo,
I appreciate your site.
I have been working to clean up my credit, and based on information on your site realize that I have not been taking quite the right approach.
In any case, I had been using a 3-1 credit bureau with scores to monitor progress. Well I thought I was on the right track as it reported the 3 major credit bureaus as my score being in the high 500's/ea. The highest was transunion at ~592. However, in working with a lender who received the credit reports direct from the bureaus --- found that my score was on average a delta 100 pts lower than the score from my 3-1 credit service. (Ie Transunion from my 3-1 credit provider 592 --- transunion from lender 472). I could reconcile a 10 or 20 point delta / disparity , but 100+ is very disheartening. I believe 472 was accurate in terms of where things stood a year ago, but I have done a lot to payoff issues, etc.
Thoughts? Real Live Human
RLP
to BO
show details
Feb 2
Thanks. Any idea how much a tax lien costs in terms of point?
Real Live Person
----------------------
From: Bo Majors [mailto:majors@oskie.com] Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007
Real Live Human
Subject: Re: Frustrated Credit Report Disparities
- Show quoted text -
I would ask
1. how close are the dates from when you pulled and when the lender pulled your report.
2. did the lender pull from one bureau or all three.
3. are any of your payments even one day late
4. have you charged recently and gone over 80% debt on a loan or card
5. have any cards lowered your credit limit recently.
---------------------------------
On 2/2/07, Real Live Person wrote:
Hello Bo,
I appreciate your site.
I have been working to clean up my credit, and based on information on your site realize that I have not been taking quite the right approach.
In any case, I had been using a 3-1 credit bureau with scores to monitor progress. Well I thought I was on the right track as it reported the 3 major credit bureaus as my score being in the high 500's/ea. The highest was transunion at ~592. However, in working with a lender who received the credit reports direct from the bureaus --- found that my score was on average a delta 100 pts lower than the score from my 3-1 credit service. (Ie Transunion from my 3-1 credit provider 592 --- transunion from lender 472). I could reconcile a 10 or 20 point delta / disparity , but 100+ is very disheartening. I believe 472 was accurate in terms of where things stood a year ago, but I have done a lot to payoff issues, etc.
Thoughts? REAL LIVE PERSON

Real Live Human
to Bo
show details
Feb 2
BTW, I reran my scores after receiving the report from the mortgage broker and the 3-1 service still showed on average 100 points better than his. Yes, he did pull from all three and the scores were terrible, in the 400's with the exception of transunion which was at least low t mid 500's. I just want to get to low 600's so I can buy something again. I have high income and low income to debt ratio but credit scores which remain too low. Granted I need more time of paying my loans on time and lots of bad marks within 2 year period....
---------------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

Lower or improve my credit score by paying down debt ratios

From Real Live Huiman
to Bo
show details
Jan 31
I'm a little confused about credit balances. These two statements have mescratching my head:1. Keep balances low -- less than 30% of credit limits on each card. If yourun your credit up your score will dramatically drop2. Lower any reported debt ratios to less than 80% or your high creditlimits.My credit score dropped from 720 to 620. After reading your advice I thinkthat I know why. My Att credit card has a limit of 14,000 I did a balancetransfer and my balance was pretty close to the limit. The interest rate onthis card is 1.99% for the life of the loan.Within the last 6 months or so I was offerd 2 credit cards from Chase with a0 % until sometime this year. One of the Chase cards is just to have incase an over draft. The 2nd card has a limit of 5,300 and I did a balancetransfered of a little less than the limit.Recently I have gotten the Att card down to 10,6000 and the 2nd Chase carddown to 2,400.With my income tax I plan to pay off the 2nd Chase card. When I get anotherlow interest rate offer I would like to transfere half the balance from theAtt card. Am I on the right track to getting my credit score back up?With the payments that I have made so far how much do you think that myscore have gone up? Please advise.


Bo Majors
to Real Live Human
show details
Jan 31
your score can go up or down 100 plus points over debt ratios
-------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

How long does a credit have to answer one way or another an a dispute that has been filed?

Good Day,

How long does a credit have to answer one way or another on a dispute that has been filed? I was under the impression that they had 30 days to do so, and if they don't say one way or another, then it reverts to what I am saying or gets dropped all together. Please advise. And, if I do it through Experian, will they contact the creditor? Or, how do I send a dispute directly to the creditor?

Live Human

Reply

Bo Majors
to Real Live Human
show details
Jan 31
30 days to answer the bureas request which means about 40 for you.

you write the creditors so you have documentation
------------------------
I get all three of my credit reports so I "know" what is going on for godness sake. Then I negotiate and use this free dispute form to make the corrections. Instructions and addresses are on the dispute form. I also know how to raise my credit ccore fast quickly free.

A Few late, stopped making payments, interest went up was recalled naval reserves

1. Bank of America credit card2. opened Jan of 20053. monthly payments, a few late, stopped making payments when intrest ratewent up to 24.99 percent. I was in the Navy previosuly then was recalledinto the naval reserves. I have orders and was then told that under thesailors and soliders relief act the lender had to lower the intrest rate. Icontacted them and thus they refused to negotiate with me. I was enroute toKuwait and offered to settle the account with 3500, they then refused again.I have since contacted credit solutions to assist with negotiating a
settlement offer again. Was paying between 125 and 250 a month.
- Show quoted text -4. 520Please assist with what I can do about this matter. I have orders still as Iam now in the army.



Bo Majors
to Real Live Human
show details
Feb 2
Take this up with someone familiar with military law.

No matter what happened (kuwait, dafar, dog ate it) you still have to make payments. No matter what. You might have been able to negotiate or get relief from interest rates IF you had been making payments on time.

Negotiate a settlement if you can.

My scores are 767 Transunion 785 Equifax and 696 Experian. I have collections

Hi

Thanks for your prompt (almost immediate) response. My scores are 767 transunion, 785 equifax and 696 experian. It looks like the first two have basically taken the small claims thing off my report and experian has not. I think it could be because they are still showing it as open. I sent a dispute a few days ago through one of the websites and hope to that it will improve the score.

I got these scores through truecredit.com. Weirdly enough I doublechecked my experian score through what appears to be the experian website creditexpert.com and my score was 772. I saw on one site that a score over 760 will give you the best deal with mortgages. I'm trying to figure out which score to trust. Any ideas.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bo Majors
To: RLH Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: Credit
they just pull all three scores and divide by three
It is posible but not probable. Use the free dispute form
On 1/29/07, REAL LIVE HUMAN wrote:
Hi,

Two questions. How do they average the three scores to know what score you're really at and is it possible to remove a small claims judgement that has been satisfactorily paid.

Thanks-- Bobo "Bo" Majorshttp://www.oskie.com/ Footballwww.oskie.com/equifaxtransunionexperiancredit.htm Credit


Bo Majors
to Live Human
Jan 29
your scores are soo good I would not worry about a thing
happy new year