Mortgage

I'm new to this board so, Howdy! There seems to be some very knowlegable people out there so I though I would run this buy you, maybe some one could give me some advice.
My credit sucks. I have several charge offs and a few collection accounts. Several years ago I lost my job and got into trouble financialy. Anyway, I had settled with all my accounts. Some "paid collection" some "Settled less than owed" ect. In Febuary I decided to start trying to clear my credit report up. So I bought a credit report off the internet and descoverd a collection account I did not know about. It's with Sherman Acq and their saying I owe them for one of my old (3yr's) account that was charged off. By investigating on the net I found a couple of sites like this one and even bought a book about credit repair. So by then I had some knowlege about what I could do. In March I sent them a VOD letter and got a call.Couple weeks latter sent another VOD and stop calls letter. 2 weeks latter E-stopple. Mean time I started disputes with CRAs. C&D letter next. OK.... My plan was to get my credit cleaned up and then buy a house. Well a couple of weeks ago we happen to run into a really good deal on a home. By then I had gotten EXP to delete the account but I was slow getting a dipute going with EQF & TRU. They kinda gave me the run around. But I thought what the hell why not try for a loan. I am a vet and had my certifcate of elgablity but guess what, the VA don't care about credit scores but you cant have any late payment for last 12 months and that Sherman account screwed that up. I sent the CRAs copies of all my letters to Sherman requesting VOD and thoght that would speed them up. WRONG! They sent me a letter stating that gave them 15 more days and when I called them about it I asked if they seen my VOD letters. They said there was a note that there was "more info" but it was un-verifiable. AGH!! I didn't send copies of all the return mail receipts. So I got EVERYTHING together and over nighted it exspress mail. They did say the investigation was ongoing though. TRU said would be done 27th and EQF said July 3rd. In the mean time I did send Sherman a ITS letter also. I included a cpoy of that with the last package I sent TRU&EQF. I guess my question is this: Do any of you know of anyway that I can force their hand... hurry up this dispute. I need this off my report now in order to get the loan. They have had plenty of time to verifiy this acount and I don't have any dought that I will get it deleted. I even stoped by the court house and got the papper work to file suit already. But, its a time issue. The guy won't hold the house for me much longer and I'm faerful that one of them will not delete it and I'll be screwed. By the time I file suit aginst them and we get that resolved The house will be gone. IT's a great deal and some one will buy it right away. It's not on the market yet.
Thanks, sorry for the long post but I didn't know how to exsplain it any shorter. Any advice would be greatly apreciated.

 

Update...I just got off the phone with TU and EQ and they said Sherman verified info. I guess I'm going to have to sue them. Bummer. I guess I won't be able to get the loan.

 

Bump

 

Here is about all I have for a update. I pulled my own credit file Friday and their still on Eq and TU reports. It does say disputed by consumer though. I did the VOD procedure and have certified mail receipts and a couple of weeks ago I sent copies to EQ and TU. I called them last week to see if that was going to change their minds. But guess what they now say they are going to start another investigation and it will take 21 to 30 days. Well guess what I AIN'T waiting. Tuesday morning I'm going down to the court house and filing a small claims suit against Sherman, TU and EQ. It's put up or shut up time.
And as far as the loan is concerned, I doin't think it is going to fly untill I get this issue resolved. It's not just the age of the account but the amount. Sherman says I owe them $13000. The OC was for about $10000. But that was BS too. But get this the OC isn't even on my report anymore. When I asked the lady at CRA's about this, she said it was because they didn't reply back. Well if the OC won't verify info then how the hell can Sherman? Anyway I'm tired of fighting this issue with them. They can show up in court to defend their position and I'll let you know how it comes out.
By the way is their a letter out there for accepting a settlement in order to drop the suit. Says someting like "send me $1000 bucks and quit reporting this account and you won't have to show up in court"?