Trying to get a med bill deleted off my account that just hit my cr last week. Telling me there is no way to delete this account even if I paid it. HELP
I am in tears. Just when I almost had Equifax clear...here comes another med bill in collections. The rep told me that if I pay it it will show paid but it will not be deleted. He said by law, NO One can delete it once it hits the report. Now I know better so tell me....how do I get this account deleted? It just hit last week. I can't win for losing.
Tell him you know there is no law whatsoever saying an account can't be deleted. The only thing the law says is *if* an account IS reported, it must be 100% accurate. It's only company policy which keeps PAID collections on the report. Since it is already on your report, your only bargaining tool is you haven't paid it yet. If you pay it with no agreement for removal, it'll be there in 2008. However, if you hold out and get them to agree in WRITING to remove upon payment thing will get better fast. Do everything in writing! Sent certified/return receipt. SK
I am sooo UPSET. I can just die right now. I can't believe this. I'm never going to get a house now OR another damn credit card. Sh**, sh**, sh**! I feel like punching him right in the darn face. He really F***** up my day!
Mother2, It's not much comfort, but I'm sorry this has happened to you. What a bummer! Believe me! Many of us here know how you feel. When my confounded paid chargeoff was reinserted on Equifax, my spirits hit the 40-below-zero mark. And I'm still trying to get it removed. In your situation, however, all is not lost. So take a deep breath and try to relax. The good thing is you still have leverage. The collection agency wants your money. Keep pushing for a settlement. You'll pay, if they delete. Of course, as everyone keeps saying here, get any agreement in writing. Hang in there. Don't give up because there's still hope. We're here with you. Good luck and keep us posted. Donna
Thanks Donna and SofaKing, I had to go for a walk to calm down. Now that I have SOME of my senses back....I will first go back to the hospital and see if we can make some kind of arrangement. THEN if that doesn't fly, I'll write the CA.
It's not a law that they can't delete the account...but it IS in their aggreement with the CRA's...they are not supposed to delete any "accurate" accounts or information from the bureaus. Smaller CA's can't jepordize their account with the CRA's, so they may be less willing to delete. My advice would be to go to the hospital and see if they've sold the account to them, or contracted it to them. Tell them you're willing to pay it if they get it back from the CA. This may or may not work.. If you're forced to deal with the CA, make sure you get an agreement in writing for deletion before you pay anything.. If one rep doesn't agree to do it, no problem.. Hang up, and call another one.. or ask for a supervisor.. someone will most likely realize that in order for them to make their cut, they're going to have to negotiate. Your last resort is to pay it in return for a "paid" rating, and then dispute with the CRA's. This is a hit or miss tactic, and works about half of the time in my experience. If possible, do one of the above. jmart
It's true that their agreement with the CRA prevents them from deleting accurate information. They could actually do it, and the CRA is not likely to even know the difference - the collector simply does not want to do the extra work. You can respond to the collector, that although they cannot delete accurate information - NOTHING says that they have to respond to a verification from the CRA regarding the account - if they do not respond it has to be deleted. This tactic has worked for me - they are usually speechless when I suggest this. Have them put it in writing that they will not verify the account, pay it, and then dispute it on your report. When they don't respond to the CRA's verification request - it is deleted.
As I have said so many times in the past, why pay it at all? If you go about it correctly and have a bit of luck, you can force them to take it off like it or not. Pay it and you have no chance for that to happen. That's because you lose any protection you had under FDCPA when you pay it because it is no longer an item in collection
