Health care related collection agencies. Delete by phone or mail.

I read much of your website and found it to be very helpful. Most of my debts in collection do not show up elsewhere on my credit report. They are all filed under the collections section. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with them being all health care related. My question toyou is concerning how I should approach the collection agencies. If Icall, what type of dialogue should I use? What questions should I ask, and should I request a confirmation that they will delete the entry onthe phone and request that they send it to me by mail, or should I request everything via mail? Any help would be appreciated.
--------------------
I would dispute them first. Mark not my account.
Then validate the debt, if the dispute does not work.
Then call and negotiate
Ask for total removal if you pay in full
Settle for marked paid in full with no new dates.

say you are buying a new home and this is the only thing holding you back from getting your dream.
beg, beg a manager at least

Got a lowes card charged off Ge Citi 7300

I “had” perfect credit and a very high credit score. I have never paid a bill late in my life.

I purchased cabinets at Lowes a year ago and applied for a Lowes card with 12 mo/no interest/no payment. I didn’t open the first few statements since no pmt was due.

A few months later I got a call that I was late. I explained it was no interest/no pmts. I got a third call in Dec that at first said I was late. Then the Lowes rep checked and said “you ARE under promotion and it wasn’t entered correctly”.

I admit I am remiss in that I didn’t verify it was fixed, but I received no more calls from Lowe’s, so I assumed it was ok.

In Spring 07, I received a call from a collections company. I do not know if it was Lowe’s GE credit company, or an outside company. I assumed they had outdated info and refused to deal with them. I answered no more “out of area” calls.

Shortly before my one year mark, I attempted to pay Lowes online, but my account wouldn’t allow a pmt. By now, I had misplaced my contract, so I called the local Lowes and asked them to send me a copy. It took several calls and faxes and ended up being only the install portion. By now, I was past the 12 mo date.

So I went to Lowes and talked to the head manager. He was very nice and assured me they would get it fixed. I told him it might be in collections and now it was past the 12 mo mark, but he said they might be able to undo that. He contacted GE and GE wants me to send a dispute letter, but the manager is trying to get me a copy of the contract first.

Coincidentally, one day after I talked to the Lowe’s manager, CTI, a collections company, called me at work and said I can only pay THEM now. They started to offer a lower amount, but I said I didn’t want to “settle”, as that would stay on my credit report and get reported to the IRS. I said I wanted to pay the original amount (no interest or late fees), but I wanted assurance that nothing negative would be on my credit report.

When I told them about the no interest/no pmts mistake, they said they would call Lowe’s/GE. I regret talking to them now, in case they muck up what the manager is trying to do from the Lowes/GE end.

#1 – If Lowes/GE sees the 12 mo no interest/no payments on my contract, can they legally pull it back from CTI and let me pay them? If I have to I will pay the interest, even dating back to the purchase date since I went past the 12 mo mark, but what would I need first from them to assure me they will clean up my credit report?

#2 – Any chance they will refuse to give me a copy of the contract? If they get wind that I have lost mine, will they lie and delete the no interest part? (I’m a bit worried it was never put on there, but I have hope since the one agent did admit seeing it).

#3 – If the contract does not state “no interest” and I have to deal with CTI, what should I get from CTI prior to paying? CTI mentioned a “paid as agreed”, but I see you suggest “paid as agreed and on time”. What else can I ask CTI to do to remove any trace of negative info?

#4 – Even if I get CTI to do these things, won’t Lowe’s keep reporting negative info? I would think I have no leverage to demand Lowe’s fix anything if I am not paying them.


My main consideration is in undoing the damage to my credit, not paying the least amount.

Original - $6600
Charge off to CTI – either $6600 or $6900 (couldn’t clarify)
CTI’s current amount - $7300

I know I brought this on myself by procrastinating and not following up with Lowe’s. But I feel they made the first mistake and should be willing to consider that.

Thanks for any help you can give me. (Please reply to all, so that I can get it at home).
---------------------------------
BO
you didnt do right on the lowes from the start
they alerted you there might be a problem and you ducked it.
that will get you burned no matter who is right or wrong.

all you can do is pay it and go on
negotiate but pay it no matter what they agree to
--------------------------
You are so right.

But what should I ask either Lowes or CTI to put in writing prior to me paying them anything?

Is “paid as agreed on time” all I need to make sure my credit is fixed?

Thanks for replying – I read your blog too and you have very useful info.
------------------------
Bo
this is the best full answer for an uneven but frequent question I get
Citi is lowes
but maybe lowes can you you on their end too
---------

How do i know something will fall off in 7 years like it should

dear bo majors........

came across your site.......was wondering about a certain issue. if an outstanding bill with a creditor is over seven years old is it taken off the credit report? if i then call the creditor to check on the status, does it automatically reopen the account?

not sure if you actually take questions, but i thought i would give it a shot.
-----------

I would not call the creditor. Do not stir could stir up any pile.
Unless I wanted to start new good credit with them.
I would check my report to make sure it comes off.
If not, then dispute it as not your account as it is not. It would be too old.
Of course the 7 years starts at date of last activity.
Credit Dispute Form
------
I did give them a call to see what status they had me listed as. Even though it has been over seven years, they say that I am still listed in their files as oweing and delinquent. They said they report to three major credit agencies about this. Would calling them count as "activity"? Prior to my call, the last "activity" is listed as 06/2000. I will try disputing with the form you provided. This is terribly kind of you to aid
---------------------
should never have called them this late in the game.
so it should fall off now huh?
dispute the account as too old, please remove from report
------------------
silly of me......
I took care of another one and thought I'd just check to see if that one was still listed.

How can i negotiate a credit card debt collectors i cannot pay?

My name is Lawena. I live in Hawaii. I’m a single 28 year old female with major credit problems. Just recently, I have attempted to get this under control. I don’t know what to do or what should be my next step. Please help me. Here’s a little of what happened so far.

I received all 3 credit reports. My credit score average is 576. BAD!!!! I’ve had three credit cards when I was 18-22 years old that I have neglected. These accounts were charged off and have since been issued to a collection agency. These balances are 1600, 5500, and 6500. Within the last month, I went over my credit report and paid any small delinquent accounts that I could. One of them reflected that I paid it in full. The others are still on there as they originally were. My question now is…..how do I go about negotiating with these collectors? I don’t have the money to pay them in one payment in full. Can I work with them on a payment plan? Will my credit score increase? Should it increase because I cleared some of the old debt that I had?

I have two credit cards presently. They have small limits but I keep them balance on both of them very low. Thank you so much for any help that you could give me.
-------------------
make sure the two you have report to bureaus. 1
work out a payment plan if you can.
if you can't, then tell them and go on.
they usually have to charge these off.
Use the debt validation letter on anyone that might try to collect on these accounts in the future

Divorce with bad credit.

Thanks so much for the free advice. Thanks for offering us some hope. I am planning on marrying someone I've been dating for some time now. He's a really great guy, however he went through a divorce and the whole nine yards, his credit is terrible. Mine is kinda decent. Will his credit be tagged onto mine, or affect mine in anyway once we get married?
--------------------
if you cosign for anything or get joint awnership on anything that already has an installment loan.

Deleted 7 bad things on my credit report and my score went up.

first they put a fraud alert on my credit report, then reinvestagated everything on the report ( except a lien that should say released go figure) got the credit report back 4 collections on it did the dept validation letters havent heard a word been 1 week, do I have the credit bur reinvestagate these or will they report them or not automatically the companys that I asked to validate, I do not have any type of service to watch my reports like other people do. and do you think the other credit beru will do the same by investigating everything on the reports? this was sweet they deleted 7 bad things off the report. thanks again
--------------------
the other bureau should do the same i would expect, but follow up on.
the debt validation usually takes 2-3 weeks for a response.
if you get a positive one
copy it and mail it to the bureaus asap.
your doin good arent you
way to go.

some people are just afraid to dig in

it would be helpful to check your scores after the changes have been made
go here......after the changes have been made that you hope will help you.
cancel in less than 7 days and its free

if you have new rated credit. your score should jump through the roof
-
hi Bo, you say afraid to dig in, I raised 4 sons and that was a walk in the park conpared to this, this is like a job, I have a whole table filled with credit stuff, when I got the report with 7 deleted on it, I swore it was xmas. My hubby could not beleive it, he said your doing great, i said ya thanks to Bo. Even if I get turned down for the ref in the spring and my payment arm resets I will wait a few months and reapply, been trying to save some extra money just in case, its just a matter of time before all my GOOD credit outshines the bad, NEVER ever be late.
------------------
and if you are late
call quick and ask for help with your report now
they usually help

auto loan only on experian. can i get it on transunion and equifax

Bo,
I have an auto loan that was opened in Jan. 2006 and has been current ever since. However, this account only appears on Experian's credit report. Shall I contact TransUnion and Equifax with the account info?
Also, I have a student loan that does not have a payment history with Equifax. TransUnion and Experian both indicate "OK" in green since June 2006.

I have an account that went to collections for $150.00. I paid the account. If I contact them and request they remove this account from my credit report, what are the chances they will actually remove it?

Should I attempt to re-open a credit card account I had with Chase that I made a settlement on? I was thinking to contact them and find out if I could open an account of $500.00... AND should I attempt to re-open an account I had with Best Buy that went to collections and was paid?

Thank you in advance for your time.
------------------
Creditors do not always report to all three bureaus
usually onlyone or two

paid collections will not come off or be removed after being paid unless you negotiate first you didn't

yes try to re open that account
-------------------------
Bo,
Thank you for the quick response! I have another question for you. I have two Sallie Mae student loans that appear on my credit report. I only have one. The status of the earlier of the two reads: "Closed (Transferred)." Dates are June of 2001 to December of 2002. The other account is current from June 2006 until now. Do I need to contact Sallie Mae to have the older account removed? Have you ever heard of this?

Thank you!
------------------

if i pay will i get a new date of last activity?

I've pulled my "free" credit report from all three bureaus. I recently received a phone call from a creditor from Capital One, stating that I owe x amount of dollars. The last report of activity was 9/99.

I guess my question to you would be, if I pay the amount (or make payments) hypothetically today, would my credit report show, that the last date of activity is today? And therefore start the 7 year cycle again? Or, chalk it up as a loss, and pray for next year to hurry up and come
---------------------
yes the redate can happen
you might sit tight and hope nothing else happens
if it does
validate the debt first
negotiate if it can be validated
pay if you have done the above and can afford it
keep new good credit open.

Debt to income ratio bad. My score is good 698 700. Arm due must refinance.

I have a arm coming due in july 08
this is what I have

1 mortgage never late for 3 years
1 mortgage ( rental property never late 3 years )
1 major credit card 3000.00 limit owe 1200.00
1 truck haven't been late in 3 years ( 4 more payments to go)
1 new truck ( 6 months never late)
bankrupt. 9 years ago
although I got alot of things deleted alot of credit card judgments my trans union score is 698, don't know husbands yet, waiting to pull his what kind of loan should I look for or will I even qualify for a loan to refinace? I am worried sick I have 6 months to go, trying so hard to reach 700 on fico, everyone says no new credit something about dept to ratio, the rental property is rented and I have a lease to show the morgage company. thanks
-------------------------
If they are turning you down for a debt ratio it would be
DEBT TO INCOME RATIO.
The score is so high it must be debt to income ratio.

I must be below 45% reported monthly obligated debts showing on my credit report.
to
Verifibale gross income per month. Last 2 years tax returns and current pay stub.

ie. I show a home loan, a car loan 3 credit cards for 3000 per month.
I must be able to prove with tax return and check stubs at least 6800 dollars per month.
6800 X .45 equals 3060 dollars. That leaves me 60 dollars a month I can add to my credit and not get turned down.
DEBT TO INCOME RATIO

looks like your open credit is very good and your score reflects that 698
i would dispute some of the older paid items and hope?
A 698 SHOULD get you whatever you want.
2 more points might help you a percentage point or less, but not much difference is there.

so dispute some old stuff
maybe pay the remaining four payments on the truck
other than that? you look good

Pay off as many monthly reported obligations before you apply for your new loan
Oh and do not open any more new credit.
--------------------------
hello, thank you, the truck will be payed off by the time I need the loan, so that will help also, do you think I should get 1 more credit card for a better mix, or just stay on the course I have in the works?
------------------
no new credit card now
cards need 12 months to help you.
you have enough credit: 3 lines reported now.
dispute some old accounts and hope
www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm
---------------------------
can u still dispute even if there marked paid or I should say settled for lesser amount, like I said I did settle all of these accts 3 years ago, so its just a matter of time before they fall off or don't look that bad. I have 3 judgements marked paid would love to see those gone, and the bank. will fall off in March 08
----------------------
you can always dispute something
it may not come up but you can dispute

daughter unpaid credit cards garnish wages

I have a daughter who went away to college and open up 2 credit card and now they are going to garnish her wages which isn't much and my concern is what can she do? She has moved and they stated that their is nothing she can do at b/c she never responded in which she just received the letter yesterday in the mail and b/c she work bankers hours and is not allowed to answer her cell phone while at work, that when she does return their call they are close. I need to know what can be done to assist her to get her credit in order?
-------------------------
number one is stop making excuses for her
number 2 is realize she should have notified the creditor when she moved.
She gets a break. lunch and such. She can call them.
Nothing in this msg says anything about a credit report
she should have all 3 with scores so she can work on them.
she should pay the cards or court off befoe they garnish her
she should get a stable stout income or marry someone with a stable stout income.

once something is in garnishment. it means this has gone to a court of law.
so debt validation wont help. courts validated them already.
dispute doesnt work.
so get this paid off and 2 years behind thee. get new good credit somehow.
---------------------------
thanks for your very negative approach tothis
number 1 i was just trying to give you a history behind this
number 2 your advice behind marital status has nothing to do with anything and if you want to be an advice counselor you need to leave the credit field alone.
you or whom ever you have representing you need to find a better attitude when answering these emails because you never know what a person has been through for you to dump on them with your nasty and very sarcastic disposition. I am very sorry I tried to to get any advice from someone who is supposed to be a so called professional. Lose my email.
----------------------------
Bo
I am not a pro
i am a real life person
the things i say are facts.

moved and i didn't get the letter is flat out ridiculous and you know that.

stable stout job is imperitive you know that

negative approach is applicable on this for sure.
i guess you never watch judge judy.
some people just do not get it.

I think that is YOU for enabling your daughter. I am sure you have heard of that.

just be glad you didn't co sign for her
---------------------------
Bo
A hundred dollars to 1 says you have no idea what is on her credit file
and that all you know is when the stuff hits the fan she finally calls you to bail her out.


life is hard
if one can not get a great job they are in with the 41,000,000 people who do not make enough to live on and I feel for these as i have been one.

might pick the book up "Nickel and Dimed in america. has a waittress lady on the cover.
a classic about an american woman who tried to make it on wait staff wages.
it can not be done
it definatley can not be done and have credit.
so your daughter may not ever have any credit unless by some act she can rise out of this situation.

My hope is she can.

my first bad credit was the same thing
i moved and didn't pay an electric bill and a bp oil credit card.
i said i moved and never got the letter.
i knew and blew it off.

then it came back after me.

so i tell people the world is hard
----------------
BO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-jUFL2ubR0
this is me and how my credit got messed up.
it is all about the job.
I married a BSN RN, thats a 4 year degreed nurse.
I was still an idiot and could not handle my job till one day.
then my credit got better and i could pay my bills

Two judgments on my credit report. One hospital bill and one telephone bill.

I have two judgements on my credit report. One a hospital bill and one a telephone bill. How can I have these removed or at least turned into collections? Also I am trying to raise my score ASAP. I want to purchase a home in the next 6 months but my score is in the mid 500's any advice on that.
------------------
Thats what those bills do when i move and let them get by. Bad things happen fast. 30 days. Judgments are terrible since they usually executed in court after 365 days. LOOKS BAD.
Judgements will remain on my credit report for 7 years but will not hurt me much, if satisfied 2 years before today, and I have new 12 months no lates reported to a credit credit bureau like Equifax, Transunion and Experian.
I open the telephone back up / ask for credit help
I pay the hospital bill / ask for help before I pay
I talk and beg before I pay
I validate and dispute anything I can not confirm personally.
I keep good current open credit
Re Flect on this webpage.

capital one says i owe x dollars on a 99 date of last activity.

I've pulled my "free" credit report from all three bureaus. I recently received a phone call from a creditor from Capital One, stating that I owe x amount of dollars. The last report of activity was 9/99.

I guess my question to you would be, if I pay the amount (or make payments) hypothetically today, would my credit report show, that the last date of activity is today? And therefore start the 7 year cycle again? Or, chalk it up as a loss, and pray for next year to hurry up and come?
-------------------
yes the redate can happen
you might sit tight and hope nothing else happens
if it does
validate the debt first
negotiate if it can be validated
pay if you have done the above and can afford it
keep new good credit open.
---------------------
Good or bad credit takes:
12 months to be rated on my report
2 years old and the account becomes unrated but can affect my score negatively.
2 years of solid reported credit will overcome most old bad credit.
7 years is how long most credit shows on my report.

filed chapter 7 2002 score checked for employment job

I filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2002. Currently, I have five open lines of credit, all in perfect standing. I checked my credit reports in Oct. 07, and the scores were 659, 640, and 710. This past weekend I rechecked, and the 710/Experian score had decreased to 619, while the other two scores had increased to 690 and 692. I paid off my car loan in October, with no late fees or negatives. I have examined the Oct. and Nov. credit reports and I am unable to determine any cause for the rapid score decline reported by Experian. My credit will be checked this month for employment purposes and this score is an important factor. Please advise.
----------------------
i think you will be ok on your job check
unless they dont hire people with a bk showing
620+ is the standard for people with good credit
680 is average with no lates payments ever in thier life
If your credit the past 2 years os strong you should have no worries.
have an explanation for the bk


I can not make a decision about a report I cannot see.
So thats all the advice I have I guess.
---------------------------
Thanks for the advice. I just discovered your web.site and have found it extremely informative. One more question. Experian also reports a last name I never used in the personal information section of my credit report. Previously, I co-owned property with an individual and it is this person's last name and my first name. I attempted to dispute this information online but was directed to call. When I called the number, there was no appropriate option nor could I get past automated symstem. Write a letter?
---------------------
Bo
Go here > Dispute form and dispute the error
anything old
anything inccorect

Fix bad credit reports. 12 Steps to good credit.

Fix Credit Fast
Fix delete repair bad credit and keep good a credit card 12 steps to good credit

Collection Company suing me for 7000 in 10 days. What do I do?

I got a claim from one of a collection agency.. have 10 days to repsond.. what should I do. They say I will get a judgement against me.

also the original negative was reported and now that company tha tis suing me reported as well. so I have 2 differnet amounts because the claim amount includes fees.

what can I do ? I dont have the money to pay. orgiinal amount due to credit card 4600 all comes up to 7000 now with fees.

any ideas ?
-------------------
Make them fill out these debt validation letters and see if they have a case for court.
Get and talk to a lawyer.

negotiate and pay bad credit. Get and keep new good credit

Hi Bo -I used your advice and sent Citibank another negotiation letter. I received delivery confirmation early this week. On Friday, I got an alert from Equifax stating that my Citibank balance had been adjusted. My balance of $1529 was completely taken off and is now $0, however now it says: "Settlement accepted on this account, Paid charge off" and of course, the account status is still CHARGE OFF. I am a little curious about this because I never agreed to a settlement. I only stated that I would pay the remaining $1529 if they removed the account from my report completely. This did, however, raise my credit score from a 598 to a 628. I am hoping that you might be able to guide me with this.. should I just let it be since it increased my credit score.. or should I take other action? Your advice would be greatly valued. Thank you for your time,
------------------
Bo
you got lucky
leave it alone and keep new good credit going.
great job
----------------
I will do that, thank you. Also, thanks for having a website that helps so many people. Best regards

First let me say I think your great, its nice to know there are still nice people in this world willing to help someone if they can, not for fame or profit, just because thats who you are, if I was your Mom I would be so proud, do you realize all the people you have helped, well include me as one. my ? is

first they put a fraud alert on my credit report, then reinvestagated everything on the report ( except a lien that should say released go figure) got the credit report back 4 collections on it did the dept validation letters havent heard a word been 1 week, do I have the credit bur reinvestagate these or will they report them or not automatically the companys that I asked to validate, I do not have any type of service to watch my reports like other people do. and do you think the other credit beru will do the same by investigating everything on the reports? this was sweet they deleted 7 bad things off the report. thanks again
-------------------------
the other bureau should do the same i would expect but follow up on.
the debt validation usually takes 2-3 weeks for a response.
if you get a positive one copy it and mail it to the bureaus asap.
your doin good arent you
way to go.

some people are just afraid to dig in

it would be helpful to check your scores after the changes have been made
go here......after the changes have been made that you hope will help you.
cancel in less than 7 days and its free

if you have new rated credit. your score should jump through the roof
-----------------------
hi Bo, you say afraid to dig in, I raised 4 sons and that was a walk in the park conpared to this, this is like a job, I have a whole table filled with credit stuff, when I got the report with 7 deleted on it, I swore it was xmas. My hubby could not beleive it, he said your doing great, i said ya thanks to Bo. Even if I get turned down for the ref in the spring and my payment arm resets I will wait a few months and reapply, been trying to save some extra money just in case, its just a matter of time before all my GOOD credit outshines the bad, NEVER ever be late
-------------------
and if you are late
call quick and ask for help with your report now
they usually help
----------------
this is why judgejudy has no remorse.
we have had a chance for remorse and let it go all the way to
Judy.
-------------------

Insurance paid 80% and charged other 20% deductible unpaid. I have a judgment

I had a broken hand repaired by a doctor who was referred by a mutual friend, another doctor. He accepted my insurance which paid 80%. He never told me verbally I would be responsible for the other 20%, though I may have signed something to that effect with all the forms signed. He wanted over $2,000. Then he lowered the amount to about $1,800. i paid over $800 but started paying $20 a month because I couldn't keep up with the agreed payment plan. He sent it to a collection agency. The agency says I now owe about $2,600-$2,800. Since that time I moved out of state and found out on my credit report that thea gency has sent it to court in NJ. They don't know where I live so I guess that is why I have not been server a summons to appear. Do I have rights because I was paying? I never signed any agreement, it was verbal. I stopped paying when the collection agency contacted me. Or should I bargain? Seems I am getting the shaft!
-----------------------------
Any resonable person knows they have to pay the other 20%. You should have paid. No excuses.
When a creditor accpets a payment plan they cannot collect the full amount if one stops paying unless they go to court and you do not defend yourself. You didn't and now have a public record. This is a lawyer thing though. I am not sure what your legal rights are.
If you are being sued in court you need to find a lawyer anyway.
Are you being summoned to court?

Ex husband has old bad credit and i co signed. 7

I pulled my credit report and there is stuff on there that was closed for at lest 12 years. the mortgage that I had with my ex-husband is on there from 1997. the house hasn't been mine for the last 12 years and he sold it about 5 years ago. I singed the house over to him in the annulment. how do I get really old stuff off of my credit report ? it thought that things came off on there own. What can I do ?
---------------------
The house with your name and your ex-husband's name on it was sold 5 yrs ago not 7 years and thats why it is still on your credit report.

Get new current rated credit on your credit report.

Forget that ex-husband and how he screwed your credit. 5 year old stuff does not affect your score much if you have good credit for the past 2 years.

Do you have credit from today back 2 years on your report that says you pay good.
If not get new good credit started here i like the Total Visa middle of page.
these report to bureaus. Takes 2 years to clear most all bad credit.

Dispute validate and negotiate anything that is old and incorrect.
-----------------------------
I don't under stand your response ????

how do I get all of this old closed stuff from 1997 off of my credit report ??
there is no other guy on my report, just he mortgage company that I had back in 1997
------------------------
You need new current credit more than you need to get rid of old bad credit.
That is my response.
--------------------

College discover card and master card maxed out. Remove fix clean delete late payments raise credit score

In college i was given a discover and Mastercard that i maxed out and eventually had serveral late payments. After graduating I was able to pay off both of the cards. During college i closed both of the cards, thinking that it would help me. In 2006 my credit report showed that both cards were paid in full. I thought that i needed to establish good credit by getting a new credit card. The only company that approved me was capital one. I have been paying all of my bills ontime, but my credit still lingers around 640. What should i do to increase my credit. Currently i have a balance on my capital one card. Also, is there anything that i could do to have the late payments removed from my credit report -i.e. discover and mastercard? Should i open the discover card account - which is my oldest account - and have my balance transfered from capital one? Please help! Also, I have amortgage and two other credit cards open which are in good standing. My goal is to hopefully have a minimum credit score of 750 in the near future
-----------------------
if you had late payments and paid something off before negotiating you cannot help your report.
Unless
I re open one of those same accounts, pay good 1 year, then ask for removal of old lates.

get 3 open rated accounts with no past lates, drop balances on credit limits to less than 80% of maximum.

shoot for 700-720

10 year old accounts schould be deleted credit report pager bill can't quailify for a home loan

My question is I have an account for a local company that was opened in 4/1997 but it also say's that it was opened on 8/2001 (not true). It also states on my credit report that is is a unsecured loan, how do I get this off my credit report, It was for a pager bill of 10.53. I thought that after 10 years it comes off of my credit report. It is affecting my qualifying for a home loan.
------------------------
Try this and say it not yours 10yrs.
Then validate the debts.
Then negotiate and pay.
10 years and the accounts should be off your credit anyway.
Pager contracts are not secured debt.
Utilities are expected to be paid by reasonable people even if they move.

Thanks Bo for your free credit help. Fix my credit report free.

You probably dont remember me emailing you for your advice i read your free credit help website, but it had to do with the capital one credit cards. I told you i had four of them and my score has been over the years staying around 560 to 599, and using your advice i paid them off all four of them, and closed them in good standing. i then opened four new ones with hsbc. my score has slowly been climbing ever since. i spoke with you back in febuary, and score climbed from 565, 588, 601,618, 670, 745. 745 is july. Talking about WOW! just getting rid of capital one is all I did using your advice. I want to thank you, cause if it had not been for me reading that advice on your website, it would have not happened. Thanks a million man! Mike from Texas. use my statement on your site if you
wish.... thanks again!

Thanks Bo for your free credit help. Fix my credit report free. I went from a 11.9% mortgage to a 6.875%

Thank - You for your free credit help web page. After using your advice on how to fix my credit I was able to raise my credit score from 575 to 640. I was in a Sub-Prime mortgage that was about to go up to 11.9%. This was going to cost me an additional $300 per month. Now I am going to close on a loan that will get me to 6.875%. My mortgage payment will go down plus it is only for 20 years. This will save me over $300,000.00 in intrest over the life of the loan.

4 collections a judgment and some good credit with a credit card. My equifax score is 595.

You are a gift from god, man i have learned so much just reading your blog, i have 4 collection accounts on my credit report. plus i have a judgement from capital one. i read everything you wrote about the judgement. i would like to know is there any way i can have it removed. the credit card company capital one didn't send me any thing, i wrote to them, before the judgement came, asking for verification they never responded, this was this year, so if i wait for the 7 years, i would be in debt. for ever, but since i am making the best of a good thing, i have a medical condition and most of my income is from the government. disability, like most Americans barely making ends meet. i need to get the 3 credit bureau's, i think you said dispute them. they are all collections except the judgement. i have one credit card in very good standing a master card with capital one, the same company that gave me the judgement. i want to tranfer the card to another company but i am not sure they would take me because of the judgement. (transfer card). from me reading you said to get 3 credit cards pay them on time and that will raise my credit score? right now i dont know the score for all 3 only one. eguifax. their score for me is 595 what do i have to do to raise it to 650-700 with all 3. i dont care how long it takes. i just bought a printer on credit, i paid it of should i ask the company to report it to the credit bureau? would it make a difference?. i want to personally thank you for your blog. you make things a lot easier with your writing and understanding.
sincerely yours,
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I would open one of these is I could. Get the total visa. I trust them. If they turn me down I call and send money to get them to approve me. Use it to buy gas each month and pay more than you charge each month for 12 months.
If the company you use right now does not show on equifax it might be on another bureau. I would call the creditor and ask them which if any bureau they report to. If none cancel and find someone else who does. Pay them off before you cancel though. Some creditors only report bad and closing accounts with outstanding balances if regarded as bad credit.
Think small right now but think good reported credit 3 lines of it.
Judgments is a 7 year thing no matter what. Someone went to court and you didn't I guess. A judgment was rendered and now you have one. They cannot be removed or negotiated. You can try to dispute the judgment as not yours. I doubt it will work though.
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thank you for emailing me back, i dont understand, the judgement call, so are you saying just wait the 7 years. even if i paid the judgement on i couldn't get it removed.
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yes judgment is a done deal
you might get lucky with a dispute say it is not yours i guess.

judgment are recorded in court documents and one was found against you.
Judgments are impossible. Just wait and get new good credit
after 2 years pass and you have 2 years of good credit. the judgments will not hurt your score as much.

Be told not to pay off collections it could hurt my score.

I have two items in collections. I have had people tell me not to pay them off because it wont help my credit. They are already 3 years old and they said that by paying them it will only make it worse because they will turn into a current delinquency. I am trying to raise my credit score and since three years ago when I got in this mess I have closed credit card accounts, paid off loans, and gotten the remaining balances down… the only thing left to do is to decided whether or not to pay the collection accounts. Do you think I should?? And will it help my credit score?? If so how soon will I see the results?? And how much will it help??
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Negotiate before you pay, to have it removed, if you pay in full.
If not pay it anyway, but ask to no activity date change only a paid in full.
It always helps in the long run to pay off stuff.
keep new good credit open.

My credit score went down when I paid a collection

On 6-7-07 my score was 650 that same month Capital One raised mycredit limit from $300 to $1,800 (%18) as well as Washington Mutual approved me for an $8,000 card (%9). I have a secured loan for a boat and have never been late. There are two vehicle payoffs paid never late since 2003. Now 10-10-07 my score is 642. I thought I was doing great until I paid $200 on a $3,000 medical collection that was never on my credit but now is ( I was alerted today 10-11-07 of this new entry to my credit). I never thought apayment would have such a negative impact on my credit.
My question: Since I have all but this one huge medical bill and the others were paid between 20 and 65 days ago would it help to file a dispute withthe CA's in hopes of getting these collections updated to paid status any faster? It's now mid October and I had planned on making a vehicle purchase in December of $30,000 with about $8,000 down and am afraid that since my credit appears to be collapsing I'm going to either not get approved or get approved with a high interest rate. I have approximately $1,800 a month of disposable income. Normally I would wait on a vehicle but due to a manufacture change I am running out of time to buy this particular vehicle type.
WaMu- $8,000 limit with $5,200 balance
Cap One- $1,800 limit $1,000 balance
Vehicle 1 payoff 2003
Vehicle 2 payoff 7-2007
Boat - paying since 4-2006 never late
Truck to pull boat - on wish list
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Bo
One should validate and negotiate before they pay.
call the collections agency and talk to them.
ask for no new dates at least. totally removal if you pay in full now.
you have enough money to do it. Once a person pays on a debt, they validate the debt themselves.

I would rather close cap one (had problems with reporting maxed out all the time) if it is over 1 year old.
get one if these credit cards instead.
they will not help until 1 year passes.

the interest rate difference from 650 - 620 is not more than 1% if you have 5000.00 down on most car loans. Do you have a credit union. sometimes all collections have to be paid with credit unions. Credit Unions provide very competitive rates.

Even though your score went down right now it will go back up soon if you keep good current credit going.

Turned down for student loan for past paid collections. Can I get them removed?

I recently applied for another Student Plus Loan for my son. I have done this with two sons for several years without incident. I was shocked when I was denied the loan for this scholastic year. The agency here in NH sent the denial letter to me. I called to ask what the problem was and they indicated that Transunion had reported two items from Collection Agencies on my report from 2005. I didn’t know they were even there, (MY BAD). They also were able to tell me that they were both medical service items and that both had been paid off within 3-4 months of going to collections. I was also told that because of some government rule changes or this scholastic year, they were not able to overlook the items as had been done unbeknownst to me in 2005 and 2006, and grant the loan.
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Are you saying you paid them off and there is no balance now and you still cant not be approved.
Or
that you thought you paid them all off and they are not paid off.
OR
because you have a paid collection you can not be approved?
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The first then there is nothing you can do.

The second go here and use the debt validation letters.

The last then there is not much you can do. Once a collection has been paid there is no reason for the creditor to remove or negotiate.
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I paid them off in 2005 shortly after they went to collections. Now Icannot get approved for the PLUS loan due to a change in policy thatdoes not allow approval if there is any items that went to collectioneven if it has been paid off. Why wouldn't the creditor be willing toremove the item from the report? Is there a cost to him to do this?
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Because you made them collect.
It is a fact, that goes into your credit file.
None will talk about paid files.
Negotiate before you pay. I guess you will rememeber that one.
There is a labor cost. But why would they take it off? There is no good reason.
Some would argue it would be lying or illegal to take it off.

Creditors have tightened credit rules you know. House market and all.
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Thanks for the quick responses. I certainly will remember this one.Now I have to figure out a way to keep my son in school.
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Sorry.
you can dispute them and hope
www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm

10 collection with a zero balance how do I get them off my credit report.

I HAVE 10 COLLECTIONS PAID DOWN TO 0 BALANCE.I DID NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THESE DEBTS.MY TOTAL DEBT IS ONLY 5000 DOLLARS.BUT MY CREDIT SCORE IS ONLY 599. HOW CAN I GET THESE COLLECTIONS OFF MY RECORD. THANK YOU
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We should have negotiated before we paid but I am still a better person. I can say I paid all my bad credit and bills and want to open new good credit and become a responsible credit worthy person.
I can accounts as not mine and some creditors might not respond or might have gone out of business.
These paid collections will not come off.
If I get new good credit, these paid collections will not hurt my crediot score much in the future and my score should increase to 650 at least in the next year.

Debt income ratio and debt to hight credit ratio.

Debt to income ratio IS NOT credit score related.
I can get turned down for credit even if I have a great credit score or a 700 plus Beacon Fico.

My monthly reported and showing on my credit report debt, plus a rent figure (if no mortgage shows on my report) must be less than 45% of my gross monthly income averaged over the past 2 years.
This income must be provable tax records or pay stubs.
Debt to income is not a credit record and does not affect my credit score.

Debt to high credit ratio IS credit score related.
I must keep my debt to less than 80% (or 30% for best score) of my available high credit limit for each reported account that shows on my credit report.

Civil Judgment in court on rent with stipulation of agreement.

My credit report shows a Judgement in Civil Court. This actually was never a judgement. My previous landlord took me to court for back rent. Once at Court we discussed a settlement and a "Stipulation of Agreement" was filed. I paid as per our arrangements (in full and I have the receipts and letters from him stating so.)

My question is how do i dispute this? Also the reason I was paying my rent late was because I was awaiting a decision from Social Security regarding a Disability. The Case took three years and I was approved and I did receive retroactive payment from SSA. i also have the documents to prove this.
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I am not a lawyer
I do not know if a stipulation of agreement is a finality of a judgment or something other than a judgment.
Something happened in court. Which is always BAD.

The ssa stuff is meaningless as far as credit goes.

I would dispute the article and say error. No Judgment rendered.

www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm

Verizon account now turned over to collection agency.

I have an account that Verizon Wireless has been trying to collect on for 6 months now. They overcharged me one month for overages I know I didn't use so I closed the account and after they started their collection process I disputed the account with the BBB, FCC, and the State Attorney General. All the responses were that Verizon has made their final decision and are willing to do arbitration, which I'm assuming will take sides with Verizon after I've payed for arbitration. I'm willing to pay the full amount they are asking now due to the fact it literally ruined my credit, but only if I can get them to agree on deletion of account since I still believe they're overcharging me. Do you think if I sent them a check for the full amount to Verizon instead of the collection agency; stating that upon cashing the check they agree to delete the account in question would work? If you have any advice on this matter please contact me.
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I doubt it.
Verizion holds the cards on this. It never pays to not pay a utility or close an account with outstanding balances and not pay until they come after you. One needs to negotiate BEFORE they crack your credit up not after. Verizon has documented charges. You on the other hand probably have nothing documenting your postion. Happens all the time.
I would try to re open the account with verizon and ask for help. Get something in writing. They probably will not help you as far as credit goes.

It will look good if you pay it off though.
You will go from owing 100% to 0% and that helps credit scores.


If they re open an the account you have th best chance.

Charged off bank debit account, sold debt to third party. Who should I negotiate with?

I have a credit account that was charged off, but the creditor has sold the debt to a third party. and they say they can't help me. Should I still try to negotiate with the original creditor or deal with the third party? Will the third party be able to update my credit reports with "paid as agreed"? thanks,
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Can't help you do what?

A creditor can only update it's records, not another party.
Debt validation helps with second and third parties

I re-opened a charged off bp oil credit card.
After sending them 340 dollars to pay the debt and fees, I also sent bp oil 300 (after talking to them about what I wanted to do) to reopen the past bad account and that I wanted to join the world of reasonable people who have good credit.
After 12 months I asked them to remove the old bad marks.
BP Oil removed everything that was over 2 years old (since revolving credit, credit cards, usually only report the last 24 months and I asked them, begged them) and paid more than I charged each month for 12 months straight.
I have a BP oil card in my pocket right now saying member since 1992, the year they charged me off.
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I want to pay off the bad debt and clean up my credit report. It's a debit card on a checking account I closed in 2000, but they say the checking account is still open and I owe $50 on the checking account. They don't have any records, but they suspect that the $50 charge is what ran up the debit card. Thankfully the debit card had a max of $500. That is what they charged off. But for some reason I have three accounts on my credit report from them that say "charged off". All three with the $500 value. 2 of the accounts are related. The third they can't find any record of. of the 2 accounts that are related, one of them was sold to a 3rd party. This 3rd party has sent collections people to find me.On the account that was sold, the bank says they can't help me and I need to talk to the 3rd party. After I do that I can talk to the banks credit bureau to get the other two accounts cleaned up.
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Dispute the third one they can't find.
Negotiate with the collections or third party to make sure if you pay, the account will not be placed on your credit report or, that they will take it off if I pay in full now.
Even if they have already put this on your report and will not take it off completely if you pay, still pay them so it will show paid off and drop your debt to high credit ratio for that one account.
oh.
and you might as well just forget about, the other one, they said they can't help you with.
in 24 months or less it will not matter much anyway

debt to high credit ratio, home loan, remove clean delete. quailify approved accepted

1 1/2 years ago we bought my dream house at the time we had a lot of errors on our credit reports, I payed a lot of debt off was very ill, so when I got back to work I took out a loan from a friend and called all the company's and made offers in compromises. no dept left. well I wasn't as smart as I am now should of asked for deletions but didn't, that's OK that was 3 years ago, and everything is payed except a couple I am still working on

my problem is this I have a arm coming due in july 08
this is what I have

1 morgage never late for 3 years
1 mrgage ( rental property never late 3 years )
1 major credit card 3000.00 limit owe 1200.00
1 truck haven't been late in 3 years ( 4 more payments to go)
1 new truck ( 6 months never late)
bancrupt. 9 years ago
although I got some things deleted, some credit card judgments, my trans union score is 698, don't know husbands yet, waiting to pull his what kind of loan should I look for or will I even qualify for a loan to refinance? I am worried sick I have 6 months to go, trying so hard to reach 700 on FICO, everyone says no new credit something about dept to ratio, the rental property is rented and I have a lease to show the mortgage company. thanks
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Looks like your open credit is very good and your score reflects that 698
I would dispute some of the older paid items and hope?
A 698 SHOULD get you whatever you want.
2 more points might help you a percentage point or less, but not much difference is there.

So dispute some old stuff
maybe pay the remaining four payments on the truck
Other than that? You look good if the mortgages are reported to bureaus.

The top, get approved banking standard, max debt to income ratio, for approval, is gross reported debt or outgo to 45% of total verifiable income.
If I am over 45% on my debt to income, then I get turned down on most loans, even a car loan and home mortgage.
I I am over 80% debt to high credit ratio my score might be lower but I will still get approved if my debt to income ratio is relly low. Like when one files chapter 7 and has no debt.
Max reported debt to reported high credit limit is 80% or less per account to quickly raise a credit score.
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Credit dispute letter
oops
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Hello, thank you, the truck will be payed off by the time I need the loan, so that will help also, do you think I should get 1 more credit card for a better mix, or just stay on the course I have in the works?
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N new credit card now
cards need 12 months to help you.
you have enough credit: 3 lines reported now.
dispute some old accounts and hope
Universal legal credit dispute form

Date of last acitivity sold and redated more twice in collections

The company (sun dial) that I bought the clock from went out of business and sold all of their accounts to another company. For some reason I was not informed and did not know where to pay my payment. In February of 2000 another company (the associates) contacted me on the phone about the account. I was told that the account was bought by them when the original closed. I paid the account and they sent me a letter of payment in full. Several months later I receive another call from another company(city financial) saying I owe this money. I told them I paid the account. They verified that the account was bought from the associates because the associates, also know as ACB recovery, had gone bankrupt. City financial also told me that it had not been paid. Since then the account has been sold to different companies each time giving a new report date and adding some finance charges.
I have disputed this several times and have gotten nowhere.
*How can I get this off my credit?
*Is there a way to get the history of this one account?
*Hasn't the statute of limitations run out?
*Can they really legally change the reporting date? (the most recent was 3/2007)
--------------------------------
Stop the silliness. Have them legally vaildate the debt.
Send confirmation delivery mail and keep copies of what you sent.

Desperate Student with credit card problems. Charge offs.

On campus, 18yo freshman are bombarded by credit card companies and Before I knew i was in some serious debt and stressed out to the max. I know have ruined my credit and at the age of 25 my independent life is just beginning. I actually had to take some time off school b/c of the high stress levels. I am currently back in school, Graduating next year. I would like to buy a home, car ect. However I don't know where to begin on fixing my credit. This summer I did pay off four accounts that had gone to collections but I still have three accounts that are not paid also in collections. How do I get the accounts I paid, off my report? Also, How should i go about paying off the accounts in collections? Should I pay them off? Its been awhile since they were charged Off? Is this too many questions?
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Pay off a couple cards and reopen the same card with the same account number if possible.
Send them upfront goodwill money to do it.
After 1 year your score will leap.

Transunion score is high. Experian Equifax Low. Some accounts not on all bureaus.

TransUnion has 2 of my positive accounts listed -- a home and a credit card. The others do not have those listed. Instead they have 2 collection accounts (less than $100 total) that are not on the TU report. The info is so different that my TransUnion score is 721, and the other two are only 595!
But in terms of the mortgage not being on there, that's bad, right? I mean, I was just denied a $10,000 loan. I was told that they will not grant a loan unless your score is above a 600. Surely an always on time mortage account would bring my score up to at least that much! So now, I am being denied credit not just because of what's on my report, but what's not my report. What gives?!
So my question is this: Is there any way that I can notify Experian and Equifax of my mortgage and new credit card?
-----------------------
Each creditor chooses or works with one or more bureaus.
your mortgage company uses only one i guess
and your collection reported to others
I would dispute and negotiate the collections
and get new good credit that reports to all three bureaus.
The total visa reports to all three and will help your score.
takes one year of acticity to be a rated credit line.
you might contact the mortgage comepany and ask them to report to the other bureaus.
IT would bring your score UP
and I would validate all collection debt
----------------------
That was fast!
Thanks for your advice!
I've already called my mortgage lender!

Free Credit Report Experian. I have 3 collections I do not know how to contact them

I received my free credit report from experian and have three collection accounts. They don't exceed $500, and I honestly had forgotten about them. I would like to pay them immediately, but don't know where to begin. The companies that are holding the accounts only have initials on the report and I have no way of knowing how to contact them. Can you help?
-------------------------------
Dispute the accounts now.
Say account not yours.
You will get a response with contact information to validate and negotiate before you pay.
or
The account will be removed deleted or cleaned from your report.

Citibank credit card is a charge-off. How do I get it removed?

I have a Citibank credit card account that has been in charge-off status for about a year and a half. In July of this year, I paid $2200 of the $3500 balance. A month ago, using your template letter, I wrote Citibank requesting that "charged off" be removed from my credit report in which case I will pay the remainder of the balance (in 3 payments). I sent the letter via certified mail with return receipt. My question is: does it seem odd that I have not received a response in over a month? Should I give it another month or write another letter?
--------------------------
write another letter and certify delivery
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I used your advice and sent Citibank another negotiation letter. I received delivery confirmation early this week. On Friday, I got an alert from Equifax stating that my Citibank balance had been adjusted. My balance of $1529 was completely taken off and is now $0, however now it says: "Settlement accepted on this account, Paid charge off" and of course, the account status is still CHARGE OFF. I am a little curious about this because I never agreed to a settlement. I only stated that I would pay the remaining $1529 if they removed the account from my report completely. This did, however, raise my credit score from a 598 to a 628. I am hoping that you might be able to guide me with this.. should I just let it be since it increased my credit score.. or should I take other action? Your advice would be greatly valued.
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you got lucky
leave it alone and keep new good credit going.
great job
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-------------------------

Are the addresses you have online for the three major bureaus correct for mailing in disputes? When I printed my Experian credit report it shows their mailing address as PO Box 9556 Allen, TX 75013.

Also, I have an account by Unique National Collections on my bureau, they represent our local public library. Anyway, I've mailed in several requests to them and to the credit agencies; they won't remove it even though I paid the library the $5 in person and not them as they are reporting. Plus they are reporting the debt as $72 and my fine was only $5. Originally they reported the original high credit as $64 after I disputed it they reported $72.

P.S. I went to the magistrates office I can't even file a complaint against them for knowingly false reporting because they are in Indiana that's not my state of residence. Plus, the library won't give out a phone number for them or tell me if they have a local office.

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It is paid in full. They are reporting it falsely. I wasn't sure if I could use that letter since it was paid already to the original creditor not them. Does this still fall under the debt validation letter? To me it's enough to worry about because it's not true and I don't appreciate people taking liberties with my bureau.
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Debt validation
Negotiation
Credit dispute

Any Real Free Credit Reports?

Are there any real free credit reports?
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Yes there are.
The best way is to sign up for a monitoring service and cancel before a certain time. The report and scores are totally free.
There is a government mandated free credit report that come with no score. The scores are 5 dollars each at each bureau which makes it 15.00.
So I always sign up and cancel or keep it until my credit report is updated. This is still less than the supposedly real free credit reports mandated by law.

How long do creditors have to post collections?

I was recently checking my credit report and noticed a new item in the collections area. How long do creditors have to post negative items such as collections? It is September 2007 and an item from August 2005 is now just being posted on my credit report. Can they wait two years to post it? Is there anything I can do to remove it or help raise my credit score?
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Creditors can report negative credit for 7 years.
Sometimes a debt gets the date of last activity changed or reported twice when it is sold to another creditor. So valdiate debt.
I got one the other day from 2003. I sent them a debt validation letter. If they validate the debt I will pay after making sure it is not on my credit report.

Loan officer told us to close our credit cards for new good credit.

Loan Officers don't seem to know what they are talking about I've learned. I see that you state we should reopen accounts and NOT close accounts in good standing. I have read this statement (not closing accounts) on other pages as well.
While on maternity leave with our 2 nd child my job was closed unexpectedly. That caused some late payments, we went through a "credit counseling" that took plenty money from us but weren't up to par with our creditors.
We talked to a Loan officer who told us to take & close our accounts we did not use & the ones that were in good standing. Even though the balances were at ZERO, she said it was still considered "possible debt". So we did this thinking what she said made sense. Now we hear different. The cards on our reports still state zero balance/account closed by consumer's request. But it has been a couple years and our score that has plummeted could we still request that they be reopened?
B) I have had 2 Loan officers RECENTLY tell us 2 different things.1) we should negotiate paying off our debt but do it in Monthly payments so that reflects monthly on our credit report that they are paying as agreed.
2) The other said to come up with a sum and pay it in full with one payment, creditors will be more likely to cooperate with one check than with payments over time. either way it won't help our score.Who is right?also the 4 accounts we are having these issues with have been transferred to collection companies. The original creditors have $0 balance with the collection Companies holding the balance. However the 4 accounts are reported 8 times. (1 each for the 4 original, then 1 each for the 4 collections) The one original creditor said they can't do anything because it is not in their hands anymore. so should io still try to negotiate with the original creditors or just go straight to the collections?I've heard 2 stories for this also.1) The original creditor will take arrangements & call off the collections company.and2) The Original Creditor may take payment but have no hand with the collection company so we may end up having to pay the collection company also. Since the original was already charged or written off they are getting the benefits twice while the collection company will still want the debt they bought from original creditors.P.S. a word on one of your blogs regarding the double jeapordy. I challenged this with the credit bureaus and they have been changed on our reports to show the same date to be off the record as the ORIGINAL debt. So even if the collection company bought it 2 years after, it was changed to show the original date to be taken off that is posted by original creditor. so it is possible. You just have to try.
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Either way it wont' help your score right NOW is the right answer.
One should have at least three open accounts.
If you have like 8 or 10. Then it is good to get down to 3. So closing does help sometimes.
BUT
Not your only good rated credit. How the heck are you going to be able to raise your score with no good credit open now?

Loan officers by an large are not credit people. They are loan people.

I would work with the collection companies. You already called orginal creditor.

Pay in full if they will remove it from you credit. But pay no matter how you do it.

Monthly payments will not help you if you are have non revolving credit issues. Collection is not revolving credit. So monthly payments is NOT going to help you with those accounts.

Equifax phone number. Is there anyone I can call?

Your phone number for Equifax is not in service.
Equifax is reporting an incorrect address for me and it is affecting my ability to get my bills sent to my home.
In fact they are reporting an address I have never lived at.
Is there anyone I can call to get the wrong info off, or do I get hosed for a credit report I don’t want before I can start the process.
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Free Credit help form letters
Go here and grab the credit dispute form letter. Instructions are on the page.

debt validation, debt, debts, dispute form

I sent out a debt validation letter on the 17 of September, Its already the first of October and I haven't heard anything yet , do they wait until the end of the 30 days to respond? What happens if the don't respond to my letter? If I don't hear anything by the 19 of October ( that's when they received my letter) do I send out copies of my letter to the 3 credit reporting agencies to have the debt removed. Is it really this easy?
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Free Credit Dispute Form Letter
Grab the credit dispute form on the page above
Dispute accounts as not yours.

Legal debt validation follow up letter for a collection agency. My rights by law

Just an update I hope that's okay.
I looked up the actual FDCPA 801 (b) outlined in the debt validation letter. I decided to submit one last letter the collection agency outlining to them the actual documentation required under the act which I know now they cannot provide to me. I hope this letter will help to avoid involving any other agencies. I feel its worth a shot.
A lawyer actually wrote this letter and I found it on the web.
I am submitting a copy of the letter to you in case other people don't want to file with government agencies for assistance.
Perhaps I'm overstepping my bounds but I hope you will consider using this in your website as a second response letter to the first if folks can't get what they are seeking. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again for all the info and for your tremendous website!
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The legal debt validation follow up letter is here.

What do you think about these credit cleaning attorney online companies like creditbureauexperts.com, or .lexingtonlaw.com. Those are just two that came up on my search engine. I stopped paying my credit cards about 5 years ago, I currently have one credit card company pursing my account in court, trying to garnish my wages etc. I have no income, no job, no assets, I am a full-time mom and full-time student, unmarried. what is the best route for me to take as far as cleaning up my credit. I would like to be able to buy a car and maybe a house someday with good credit, or at least get approved to get a cell phone contract or little things like that. I have some funds to "negotiate" with the creditors to pay off my debt, and or pay a credit clean up company.what do you think?
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no income and no job means forget about credit. You couldnt pay if you wanted to.

Impoved credit score. Max out credit card. Debt Ratio. Credit score

I have improved my credit score to 695 (from 648) a year ago. I am need to make a big purchase (necessity) and need to use my credit card to do so. I have the choice of either maxing it out or just staying about $300 - $500 below the credit limit. Will there be adifference? I will be paying this off within a year but how far down do you think my credit score will drop? This will also affect my husband's score and his is lower than mine (around 665). I'm so bummed but there's no other choice.
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Your score could drop 20 points if you do not have much credit out there.

When or if you max a credit card out then, get it lower than 80% to high credit limit as fast a possible and no harm will be done.
Once you pay it down to less than 80% your score will be as good as it was before you had a debt ratio problem with that credit card as long as no other things changed.
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Debt to High Credit Ratio
(how much you owe on one line of credit to your credit limit) Counted on credit score<
is different from

Debt to Income Ratio
(oustanding monthly bills to monthly income) NOT counted on credit score
but is counted by lenders as ability to pay. Normally less than 45% is what a lender has to go by. If you have more than 45% bills to income you can be turned down.

Credit cards closed or discharged now in collections

I have to credit cards on my credit bureaus that have been closed/discharged....Recently I have been received phone calls from the companies looking for a settlement offer....as far as I knew once they have been closed/discharged I don't have to make any kind of repayment...please advise
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That is a common assumption with no clear answer other than many debts get sold and re reported on credit reports.
Try to stop it here.
Or negotiate and pay a settlment.
Or face the posibility of continued bad credit from this account.

Credit card and collections and bad debts. Help my credit score.

I had a credit score of 595 a couple of months ago, but a credit card company that was reported as a charge-off back in January 2006 just started reporting negatives on my report from then until now (15 months worth) which brought my score way down. I tried to contact them by letter and no response. They turned my account over to a collection agency and still no response from them. This dropped my score to 522. They are saying I owe way more than I do but I can’t get them to validate the debt. Any suggestions on how to get them off my report and/or stop reporting? I have another credit card that is listed as a charge-off, also transferred to a collection agency (the collection agency has not reported yet). I need to get them off there as well. These are the only 2 things that are on there as current negatives.
I also have a few other minor collection accounts that were paid but still on there. I have disputed those as well, but still no luck in getting them taken off.
Also, there is another account in collections but not on my report. I was making payments to the original creditor, but they decided to turn me over to collections anyway. It was turned over in 2005/2006, then recently turned over to another collection agency. The debt is about $1400.
I have 2 car loans (both current), 1 current credit card w/ $200 limit (just received, dropped score), student loans (totaling about $30,000 but still deferred), 1 loan for a timeshare (loan was made through a collection agency and we were not made aware of that when we bought it). Altogether my current debt is around $60,000 and my credit score has dropped to 499. I need to get this up over 600 ASAP so we can buy a house. Please help!
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If they cannot validate the debt with a debt validation letter sent certified delivery, then dispute the file and send in copies of what you sent them to validate.

Write 50 word or less explantion with your disute

You should pay the second card and get it re opened
One year from now they will take the charge off, off

All paid collections never come off it seems.

Try to keep the new collections bay by making payments and asking them not to report.

The 200 dollar limit cannot go over 160 borrowed and you need 1 year on the books. should help in the long run. 1 year

Pay anything to below 80% that you can.
Pay off anything you can

The deferred student loans almost assuridly show 100% owed.

Get that down to 80% and that will help

New Fico credit score rules.

Since the model is a complete secret, here at Credit Line we do not know what is going to happen to your credit score and how it is going to be affected. However, we do have some information from the Fair Isaac Corporation:
1) Authorized Users are no longer going to be counted in your FICO Score.
2) Length of credit history is not going to play as large a role as it does now.
3) Payment history is going to be weighted more than it is now.
4) Right now, FICO divides the population into 10 segments and applies a different formula to each segment. People without serious credit issues fall into 8 segments, and those with serious issues fall into the remaining 2 segments. In September, this is going to change to 12 segments, with 8 segments for good credit history, and 4 for bad credit history.
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They are saying you cannot piggy back to better credit now
Seldom used credit help technique where one person is assigned an "authorized user" on anothers credit card. They new person gets instant good credit of the pig's past good credit.

And really they should do this. One should not get good credit for doing nothing.

Affects very few people. Mostly children and such. But has been abused.

Do you have any authorized users on any of your credit cards?
If there were, then this would affect them.

How can collection agencies on a yearly basis change the date of last activity.

How is it that the collection agencies can, on a yearly basis, change the date of last activity? Is this illegal? The debt is well over 15 years old and yet is it being reported as active.

How can I get them to stop and remove this from my credit report?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
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They sell them to each other.

Be sure to try this Debt Validation letter.

Pay them and be done if you can.

Inquiries. remove Inquiries. Experian will not remove inquiries

I am writing because I hope that you can help me get some illegitimate inquiries off of my credit report. My wife applied for some loans in her name and the mortgage company pulled a tri-merged joint report. I did not know about the inquiries until later they showed up on my credit report. I wrote letters of dispute and telephoned Experian who told me that the only way to get them off my report was if the mortgage company was to request the inquiries to be removed. Experian said that inquiries are not treated like ordinary items and they cannot be removed without the express permission of the company that recieved the information. The mortgage company said that they will not remove the inquiries. These inquiries have all happened within the last 12 months and they are hurting my FICO. What advice would you give?
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That is just one hit per bureau.
Unless your wife went to several martgage companies

Any time one signs, to get approved, that is legal authorization to get you approved no matter what.

Even so, if you have less than 15 inquiries or so, your score is not really affected.

Judgment, Judgments

I have a judgment against me involving an auto accident several years ago. Actually, it was my son who was in the accident, and the woman he hit sued. The case was settled through the insurance companies. I paid nothing out of pocket with regard to this lawsuit. So imagine my surprise when this judgment turned up on my credit report. I am having difficulty with credit following my divorce several years ago, and I'm trying hard to fix things, but this judgment is causing a problem and I don't know why it's there or how to get it removed. Can you help? This judgment also shows on my son's credit report. He's 24 and just starting out, and this is a big problem for him as well.
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If you were in court or did not show up to court and could not be found to present your side of the case, then I understand. If I can't help but let it get that far and it goes to court. Credit will be affected.
If you think it should not be there, then dispute it and see what happens.
Then make contact with the findings and see if something is wrong.
www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm

Medical collection date of last activity. Pay off

I have worked very hard for the past 6 months getting my credit report fixed. All I have left is a $373 medical bill (that I think should have been paid by insurance company). None the less, I have called and ask them to remove if i pay in full. "NOPE". Well, this bill is 5 years old. And if I pay it off my score will drop due to activity. And right now for me every point counts. I am wanting to get a new car. If they drop me 10 points, that stops me in my tracks. What should I do?
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I like to pay off everything no matter what. Having it paid helps too. So many times a re date will offset by having a zeroed balance.
The 10 points will be back in a matter of 6-12 months if you have good open credit now.
Some lenders turn people down for just one outstanding collection.

new account of same debt. Two bad debts for one now. Is that legal?

I have a charge off from back in 2002 when i lost my job, that the company was sold and reopened my account as a new fresh debt. Is that legal? I've heard of new companies who buy out old companies being able to attempt to recollect, but I never heard of them applying the same debt as a different creditor.
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Send them a debt validation letter and find out for yourself.

Trying to build my credit. I need a new credit card.

I'm an immigrant from germany and just received my ss number and try to get a credit card to build my credit. I already have a car loan which i got because of connections in the bank. Officially i'm working for my current employer for 2 month (not officially 2 Years (cash)). I dont like the cards where i have to pay a fee. is there anybody that can aprove me for a card? Can you help me with that? My houshold income is around $38000.- a year...
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Make sure the car loan is REPORTED TO A BUREAU
or it won't help your credit

This is the best place to get started on cards. They all report and will help you get started.

I like gas cards. Bp Oil and Such
Stop in a exxon or BP oil and grab a card aggreement
fill it out and send it in.

If you get turned down
Do it again but send in a casshiers check with your application for 300 dollars
They will do it.

Charge off utility and collection. Remove

I subletted a coop about seven years ago. The reason I relinquished it was the landlord wanted to sell it, so I moved out, and (mistake) left the power on for her until she transferred it to her name. Bottom line: she waited a month, ran up another $51 in electricity charges, and I never got the $51 bill. Years later I was contacted by a collection agency. I paid it with the explanation above, and have run into brick walls trying to get this "derogatory mark" removed. Any suggestions I'd welcome. Thank you.
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Nope
Same thing happend to me with Nashville Power in 1992 and that is what started this whole credit help webpage thing.
One can sometimes get credit cards, hopsital bills, collections to negotiate.
Utilities almost NEV ER.
Get new credit and go on

Dispute form. Contact creditors. Raise credit fast

There are things on my husband Equifax report that don't have a creditor...do you know what I should do?
Thanks, We are trying to raise credit fast, and paid off everything this week. They were mostly medical debt. Does this actually lower our credit?
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Dispute any possible errors on your report as not your with this form.
It is good to try to negotiate before you pay to get things roved completly, but anytime you pay stuff off it looks good and eventually helps your score

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

I filed Chapter 7 in 2002 and it was discharged in November 2002. Can I get this removed after 7 years? Is there any way that I can work with the bankruptcy court to pay all the creditors what I owed at the time of the discharge and have the bankruptcy removed earlier than 7 years?
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No. Chapter 7 is a matter of law and a final unchangeable fact.
Just get new good credit and do this
Get new good credit that reports to bureaus
The total Visa reports to all three bureaus.

Collections and Judgments

I had an account show taken to collections and later taken to court. The one taken to court now shows up as a paid civil judgment and the other as collections. Is there anything I can do about this double hit even though it's the same account?
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They are both levels of deliquency on one account.
You were charged off then collected on.
Might help to get one off but not as much as new good credit would help.
I would dispute the item as not mine or duplicate.
Universal Dispute Form

Charge offs.

My girlfriend and I are looking to buy a house in the next couple years and we need to clean up her credit if we are to finance a house. She has accounts that are "charge-off"-ing on her delinquent accounts month after month. Is this a legal way to represent a charge off? The charge-offs have been on here credit report for 48 months, each month with a charge off indication.
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If they submit it to the bureaus and the bureaus accept the entry which it seems they have. Yes they can.
I would verify the debt or dispute the accounts if you think they are not right.
Remove completely
Universal Dispute Form

Inquiry on my credit report. How much does it hurt my score.

I opened a new bank account and the bank mistakenly sent me a new credt card even though I emphasized that I did not want one. Since I had not submitted enough financial information, the application for the card I didn't want was not approved for use and now shows up as an inquirey. I did not attemt to activate or use the card. How much does this inquiry affect my score? How can I get it erased from my record? Experian does not seem to offer a mailing address for disputes and seems to require one of their reports vs. a 3 in 1 from another agency (Equifax).
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Inquries do not really hurt score unless you pile on about 20 or something.
Most inquires cannot be removed and they are not worth troubling yourself over.
You can try to dispute them with this form. Credit Dispute Form
1-5 inquiries have no efffect. 5-20 probably about 5-20 points max.

If I pay off my credit cards how much will my score go up.

I have two credit cards that need to be paid off. The amount is about 700 dollars. How long will it take for my credit score to go up after I pay those off?
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30 days or less if they are maxed and at least 1 year old
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Do you know how many points it will increase? If its about 2 cc with about 400 each.
Thanks. Those are the only bad cc I have on my credit and they messed up my credit. I had some other ones on my credit report about 3 years ago, but I paid them off.
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I don't know your score now.
Do you?
Do you have 3 open lines of credit now, that are at least 1-2 years old and with no late payments in the 1-2 year period?
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My score now for TransUnion is 579, experian 548 and equifax is 579. I still have 2 credit cards that I need to pay on which I am going to do this month. I have a car loan that I pay on I had one late payment. I have a store card that I always pay on time, and a student loan that I will start paying soon. The 2 credit Cards I think are killing me. One is capital one and one is a store charge card. I called to pay them off, and they told me they were going bankrupt so now they are trying to collect.
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Pay any collection or charge off after negotiation. Reopen same accounts if possible buy sending in up front payment so they trust you. Make sure the report to bureaus.You need three open reported lines of credit
Make sure balances are less than 80% of limit.
Close capital one and get another card here.
Credit Cards for new good credit
Make on time payments for 1 to 2 years and your score will go to 700
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Thank you so much! I have one more question for now. If I try to open one of these credit cards at credit.com will it take away from my credit that I do have?
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No it will not.