With Mr. Cooke the best advice is to be to the point but not over threatening. It was a very pleasant conversation and I thanked him and was very polite and I got more than I even asked for. What were you asking for in the PF letter? ---> Zaphod ;')
I was asking him what I need to do to open an account after my father charged off a card I was an AU on in 1998. I never saw the card and didn't know anything until collectors called me. I settled with them and they agreed to report it for me as paid as agreed, but they didn't until very recently. So anyhow, what I want is assurance that this reporting will continue and that I can get a card with them again. I want Classic and/or KMart. I plan on being very friendly with him. He sounded nice. Steph
How old were you when you were added as a AU? Were you still living with your father at the time? I would take that route with him emphasizing that you were unaware of the AU status because you were x years old and living with him (if this is the case). State that the card was never in you possession and were never told by your dad that you were an AU. Then out of good faith paid the balance that your father had charged off. Be sincere, stress that you made good on the charge off and that you had now awareness of the facts at hand. Tell him that you have heard of so many good things about the company and would love to use the card and would love to recommend the card to others. Then see what his response was....he seems like a very reasonable man and very understanding. ---> Zaphod ;')
I was 18, this was in mid 1998. I was living with him but all he did was travel so he took the stuff with him. They gave me maybe $300 and he charged it up on phone calls to me and Internet access, as far as he remembers. He charged it up within 2 months or so and made maybe 1 payment. I never opened his mail so I never touched his statements. I assumed it was his card and never knew I had a thing to do with it. But when collectors started calling me, I knew what happened. It shouldn't have surprised me. He says he never knew they'd come after me. I don't know. We barely speak now because he just travels and I live with my mother now. My father is very ignorant about credit and says he doesn't care about his at all. I am hoping since I spent the little money I made then (I settled this in 1999 with the help of a lawyer friend once I realized what happened) paying them off, that Mr. Cooke will think I'm a decent person. Now I have a good salary. I have nothing from after 1998 in my credit files right now except that library fine, from 1999. I doubt he would hold that $28 over my head. So I am hoping for the very best. Should I suggest a kind of card or let him? I did apply at least a month ago for a KMart and Classic but no inquiries showed up and no word from CapOne. I was told by the system to wait for the mail. I just want to handle this right. Because I heard CapOne has really great customer service now and is fair with the increases. I'd like both cards with $300 + each, but I don't want to be pushy. Steph
Others may disagree but I believe honesty is the best policy. Be open and honest, he is contacting you to help. Whatever you do don't beg and sound desperate, be confident and most of all be HONEST! No one likes a flat out liar, stretching the truth is tolerable, but I would ask for a basic unsecured card with a modest limit like $500. Even is the APR is high use it and try to pay it off every month and establish a good record with them. That way your foot would be in the door and you will have your way later...in about 3-6 months. Sacrifice now...benefit later! ---> Zaphod ;')
Steph, You sound nice too. Tell Mr. Cooke that under FCRA you can't be held liable for a debt that you were an Authorized User on. He needs to remove it within 30 days per the FCRA due to it is not your debt and you were not obligated to repay any portion of it. Let him know that if he does not, you are entitled to damages by lawsuit. I would also file a dispute through the bureaus with the same argument. You have a legitimate complaint with this one.
Thanks phinneous. Maybe I was too harsh with you in the other thread, but I did want to make a point that not all my bad credit is my fault. Anything that is, I paid and owned up to, and learned from it. I made mistakes but I'm learning Steph
With all due respect to Phinneous, I would suggest that you not invoke the FCRA and mention lawsuits, etc. Both Mr. Cooke and Mr. Miller are very accommodating; I'll bet Mr. Cooke will sympathize your situation. After all, you were the 18-year-old daughter of someone who wasn't responsible with his credit and who designated you as an authorized user. From what I know about the Office of the Consumer Advocate at Capital One, they really go the extra mile to take care of highly-escalated customers, however they're pretty sensitive to lawsuit talk. If you go that route, you may find that the Consumer Advocate simply defers to the Office of the General Counsel who will be FAR less accommodating. Again, it's not my intention to cast aspersions on Phinneous because he is CERTAINLY making a great point. My advice is not from a legal standpoint -- rather, I'm giving you interpersonal tips that I strongly believe will make a difference. (In any case, you can always threaten a lawsuit in a followup conversation if you get nowhere this time. Save your big guns for last.) Doc
I do think a wonderful point was made, but I will save it for later if needed. I want to have a human to human conversation and leave laws out of it, as Mr. Cooke sounds really nice to work with. Steph
