Dear folks, sorry to post this that seems to be a very common question here, but I could not find one that matches completely my situation. Hope you guys can help me. Here is my case: Between 2003 and 2006 I had an account from Verizon. Due relocation out of the country, I request the to cancel my account. Here is the thing... during this last holiday, I visited the apartment where I used to live, and they have kept for me an old bill from Verizon... It was about 120 USD at the time (2006). Since I don't have business in US, I never checked the credit score (my bad). Today I decided to check and found on my credit report, one negative point that was posted in 08/2009. The credit limit / original amount was to $223 as of 08/2009. Here is the thing: the report than can be real. So I want to clear (I know that will not clear the report, as it says will be kept on records until February 2013). The questions: - Should I contact the AFNI to request to pay? - If so, is there any risk that they will increase the amount due? If so, how much (considering the inflation + taxes, etc, how much can I expect that is fair)? - Or should I just leave and wait to be cleared? If not paid, I'm afraid if they will report the same debt in the future... What you guys suggest to do? I already read about the certified letters, asking for validation of the debt, etc. Would this be a good solution (one they certify the debt, I know the amount due, etc). All the suggestions are welcome. Sincerely, Dan
Do you have any real need for good credit in the US? If you live out of the country and have no business here in the US, then it might be easiest to just pay it off so you can forget about it and move on with your life. Eventually the paid collection will simply drop off your credit reports. Have you received any communication from the CA regarding the debt? Or are you just going off what you found on your credit reports?
Hello Joshua, Thank you for your replay. Well, I don't live now in US, but it seems I'll be moving back in 2 years. Besides, I don't want to leave anything behind (just the way I'm...). It may be possible that CA tried to contact me, but since I wasn't living at the address, they could not find me... You guess is correct, I just found out checking the credit report (actually the 1st time in my life)... So the posting on the CR is quite old (2009). For $223 at the time. On the Verizon bill states that interest on unpaid bill is 1.5% a month. Also I understood from other forums, that a CA cannot claim other interests than the original (in this case, 1.5%). Is this correct? What I'm afraid: If I just leave like this, when is close to drop of the credit report (2013), they make another claim... Can they do that? And it they could increase a lot the amount originally claimmed ($223), to something else more serious... so I'm afraid of "kicking the dead dog" for something that is sleeping for while, but also to awaking the dog and making more damage... Anyway, I'm willing to pay if the amount is not much over that, and specially if they can take that out of the CR (or at least not make a new claim on the same subject)... Thanks for your patience and appreciate any thoughts you may have to share. Sincerely, Skydog
This alleged debt has a DOFD (date of first delinquency) in 2006? In that case, it will age off of your credit report in a year, or less, regardless of whether you pay or not. So tell me again why you feel the need to throw away good money on this debt, which may not even be legitimately owed?
An Update on the situation: - I decided to call Verizon. Since it was an old account, using the webchat they could not localize my account number. So they gave me the number to call... I called and the person confirmed the account has been sold to a collection agency. (AFNI). I called the CA about the account. First he wants to know the SSN, I said I rather not to say, he said fine, just asked me for the name on the Verizon bill, plus address, etc. I gave and he did confirm that I had a total of $223.80 USD. I said that I wish I could pay before, but since I didn't live at the address and even in the country anymore, I never received any letter and just found out due the credit check I did 2 days ago. Before continuing he said that by the law, as I was never informed, they will automaticly pull that out of my credit report. That I still own them the amount, also with no interest. I said that was fine, that it was my intention really to pay. He asked me an address to send the statment with zero balance, so I gave the PO box of the company I work for in Mexico. He also said that the negative credit report was being pulling out because of not getting their communication and not due the payment, but was going to be taken out. Either way, that works for me. My main fear was to have a constant increase on the outstanding balance (such $223 being, I don't know, $1000 bucks), or that they could come back in the future on the credit report... Even if they don't pull out, it will drop by 2013, right about the time when I may go back to US... so it works for me. He said to check back on the account on their page by Tuesday, where it will appears as zero balance, and I'll also receive their statment regarding the credit report. I'll keep you guys posted on the outcoming. Now I can sleep much better!!!! Sincerely, Sky
Hello. Yes, it was real debt I had... As I said on the first message: "Due relocation out of the country, I request the to cancel my account. Here is the thing... during this last holiday, I visited the apartment where I used to live, and they have kept for me an old bill from Verizon... It was about 120 USD at the time (2006)." So it collected interest (as stated on the account - 1.5% per month). So the owned quantity requested by AFNI was correct ~ 223 USD). They did report on the credit in 2009, so it is scheduled to wipe off in 2013... Since it was a real debit I had, confirmed by the bill I received at former address, I had to do the right thing that was pay...
