wow..now I wish'd I'd have written down the dates and names of the people at the electric company. good job on that letter..it looks scary. -mark
imlost, what is the charge off date showing on the electric bill? Maybe we can deal with it another way....
That's my point to you Mark. You feel powerless only because you are powerless. But you are powerless ONLY because you don't know your rights and the law. It's not unusual for a new person to log on here and start fixing things right away, but it's not wise. There is a ton of reading to do and threads to study before one is able to build that initial foundation. Example: Your first letter, though a truly valiant effort, was riddled with mistakes. Just follow the majority of advice you get here and above all. SLOOOOW DOWN You didn't get into trouble overnight and you cannot fix this stuff by noon tomorrow. Just relax, read your fanny off and stick around here for about a month before you do too much more. I'm only telling you this because we care about your credit correction efforts and want them to produce good results, as I'm sure you do too.
the charge off date for it shows 09/01 It actually says "PAID CHARGE OFF" UTILITY btw, what am I hoping to accomplish with my validation letters? Is there a good thread where I can read about the process? -mark
Oh the Elec. bill, From now on each time you make a payment put the following in the memo portion of the check; "100% to current usage" And keep a photo copy of it. Until we can help you get some things sorted out.
thanks butch..Im just frustrated. It seems like this stuff will never end. thanks for your support -mark
nice idea..i think i see where you are going with this. If they claim it was indeed charged off, and wont change it, then they will owe me the cash for it because I was paying above and beyond my normal bill. correct? -mark
re the electric bill: When did you first fall behind on the old account? re the validation letters: you are trying to either make them give you the date of delinquency/charge off, or take the account off your credit report. I said it in a prior post: I think you are looking for the "magic bullet" that fixes it all. It's a process. Start keeping everything, don't talk to them on the phone, do everything in writing, read read read. For starters the FDCPA and FCRA are your bibles, learn them inside out.
in their own words ( i did try to reason with them at one point over the telephone) , I was behind from the first month of service in beginning early 1998. I was paying for 2 electric bills at the time, hence the high amount. long story. yes a magic bullet would be nice...wishful thinking I know. Im ready to take charge though, and I will begin reading reading reading -mark
Too bad you have to have service from them. It would be beyond the SOL, and apparently they did not bring it up to date, but whatever.... Lemme do some checking around, perhaps there is a way to make them change it. They're punishing you.
Hey neighbor, We live in Dallas, and I have had run ins with TU as well. Texas has opened the electric and gas markets to competition. TU no longer holds a monopoly. Check into changing your service from TU to another electricity provider. TU sucks - they are mean spirited bullies.
Yes, I was going to change to another provider, until they told me the bill still comes from TU electric because there lines are still being used. they specifically told me I'd still get charged for my outstanding TU debt (the alternate provider told me this, not TU electric btw) but they said they would work with me on it more than TU. TU or no TU..I'd still be paying for it, and I don't want this on my credit report as a CHARGE OFF..its not right. If I wasnt paying for it, then maybe I could handle the CHARGE OFF on my report..but I am paying for it, it shouldnt be there! aarrgg.. Whats funny is that the balance just appeared on my bill a few months ago. They honestly had 'forgotten' about it when I switched service to a new address about 9 months ago. I'd been paying on time and everything and all of a sudden 2 months ago they add the amount to my bill out of the blue. *I think the reason they did not transfer it over when I moved was because when we transferred the account we switched it into my wife's name as primary and out of mine. this was so my wife would have proof of residence on a utility bill for school. I didnt argue when they 'forgot' about it, of course.. bah (in fort worth) -mark
Well, we had a $92.00 paid charge off from TU. We disputed it through CRA's two came back verified and one came back deleted - CSC. Try disputing multiple times. You might get lucky. TXU is a tough nut to crack. the FDCPA does not apply to them since they are original creditors, and they do not use CA's. I have been considering sending them a nutcase letter, but am waiting for my second round of dispute results with them. Plus, my particular 92.00 PCO falls off next year. You might try a nutcase letter after you pay off the debt. Be aware that since they forced you to start paying the old debt again, they could technically re-age the debt if you become tardy again.
well they also would be really busy if they reported people to the credit bureaus everytime they had to make payment arrangements..i argued this with them previously. As they are always having to make arrangements with people during summer months. what is a nutcase letter btw? -mark
TXU Energy Residential P.O. Box 227097 Dallas, TX 75222-7097 June 21, 2002 Re: Acct xxxxxxxx To Whom It May Concern: I am formally requesting that you validate all trade line notations you have submitted to the three major credit reporting agencies by TXU Electric for Mitchra, and Mrs. Mitchra, for account number XXXXX. Due to possible inaccuracies in these CRA reports, I must demand that the validation I hereby lawfully request be in the form of a notarized statement by a person with original knowledge of the debt as it was constituted and who can testify that the debt was incurred legally, was not subsequently disputed, and was not utilized as a profit-loss tax deduction during the period it may have been payable, and was not claimed as a loss with any insuring entity during the period it may have been payable. Please be advised that I am not requesting a verification that you have our mailing address; rather, I am requesting validation, i.e., competent evidence that we had some contractual obligation sans consumer protection encumbrance which incurred the original claims associated with this trade line. I have enclosed two documents which verify our address: a photocopy of my Driverâ??s License and a photocopy of a recent utility statement. Please know that you have 30 days from the tracked and confirmed delivery of this lawful notice to either answer these demands or to remove the associated negative trade line notations from the CRA reports. Any other action may constitute evidence of your intent to abridge one or more civil or other constitutional rights. Please be further advised that continued unsubstantiated reporting of possible inaccuracies to third parties may provide a basis for criminal complaints being filed in accordance with FDCPA, FCRA, and other federal statutes. I look forward to a timely and amicable resolution to this matter. Sincerely yours, Mitchra This is one of the many nutcase letters out there. Check in the creditnet FAQ for other examples. Pyschdoc has a really good one as well. It is used only for paid charge offs, so you should not send it until you have satisfied the debt. BTW, how in heck did you run up a $5,000 electric bill. Did you live in a warehouse? They ususally cut you off after two or three missed payments.
paying 2 electric bills, both always behind because i couldnt even hardly afford one. I can't complain about their ability to continue service infinitly, but back then, there was no other choice for service. I will pay the debt off (planned on that anyway) then most likely send this nutcase letter out..thanks for your input. Im still learning.. -mark
I was just reading through your posts and noticed that you put it in your wifes name. How do they know your married, or were married at the time of the debt? Did you give them both of your names when you signed up for service at either your old address or your new one? Maybe you could have your wife write a letter stating that she is not responsible for the $5,000 debt as she was not with you at the time the $5,000 was incurred. Individual debts that were incurred prior to marriage do not become community debt . Maybe you could write a letter in your wife's name stating that she is not responsible for the $5,000 and wants it refunded immediately to her account, and that they should contact you in order to collect the $5,000, however she has no idea where you are etc... In other words make it into a case of mistaken identity. This won't help your credit report, but it might get you out of paying for the debt and still suffering the negative TL. Then you have bargaining power to negotiate a settlement in exchange for full deletion, as they can not bill it to your wife since it is not her debt. Don't tell them where you live though...
wouldnt work, it was always in both of our names. I think the way they do it is they assign a primary account holder, then add 'authorized users' or something like this. It just became reversed the last time we moved and confused them I suppose. we were still married back then, and still are. they claim that at the time of the debt, we were both on the account, so both of us are responsible for it. I have not looked at her credit report, but Im sure it is on hers as well. thanks -mark
