I was panic-stricken last week when I discovered that the lawsuit I was about to file against the CA was not what I regarded as a solid case. Unfortunately no one here was able to answer my questions about what to do, since it involved a paid collection; but I had decided to file anyway. (I just finished filling out the paperwork & was going to do it today.) I just pulled my report, and it is gone! I don't know if the CA deleted it in response (albeit delayed response) to my ITS letter, or if TU deleted it due to the dispute, or a combination of both. (I had disputed it w/TU 3x before and they always verified). Anyway, it's all gone now, and I have a spotless TU report! I pulled my score (and this just doesn't even seem right...) but it said 845!! The funny thing is, I have gotten rid of about 4-5 paid collections through methods I found on this board (nutcase, ITS, etc) that aren't really even based on specific consumer protection laws. I guess the moral of the story is, if you sound serious and informed (whether you are or not), you will probably get results. I'm glad I didn't know beforehand that paid CAs weren't required to validate or respond...I might not have had the guts to write the letters I did! And thus, would have never seen any improvement. Anyway, 37 derogs gone in 7 months. (One more to go on EQ). I'm proud of this accomplishment, and SO thankful to CNetters for giving me the tools to be successful. THANKS!
Got one of those sample letters you sent to TU? I disputed a paid collection twice with them and they always verified. I don't think they verified at all because the results says Settled; Less than Full Balance. But I never settled. I want to dispute it again or send them a letter or something. Thanks!
Well I had a strange deletion form TU also, but this is what I did. I started a complaint with the BBB where the CA, a validation letter to the CA, and a complaint to the State AG. When it came time for the dispute to be verified with TU, this item was deleted post haste. So far, I only have a total of 3 derogs on EX and 1 derog on EQuisux.
Thanks! gc - Well, I didn't write anything special to TU...I did an online dispute, but in the description I stated something like "I am unable to verify this account as mine with ABC Collection Agency. Please send me the information you used to verify". (Basically, a procedural request.) Then, about two weeks later, they sent a list of my creditor names & addresses "per my request". I found that odd. But now I guess they've deleted it (I don't have the official response yet). Epitomee - Great idea, I never tried that. (Hopefully I won't ever have the opportunity to try it, though. LOL!) For me, TU was strange because they generally deleted most things I asked for with just a simple dispute. I started out with 12 derogs on TU. In only 3 months, they deleted a total of 11! But my one remaining derog, took me another 4 months to get rid of! They had deleted many accounts that would've been easy to verify. For example, I even had a student loan TL they deleted AFTER they verified it as accurate with GA Higher Education. (I know they did this because I spoke with GAHE & they had record of what they sent back to TU!). So I will never understand why they were so strict with that last derog!
If you dispute a paid collection, what exactly are you disputing? Also, how is it being disputed. I ask because I paid a collection in full and they will not take it off of my report, but apparantly they do not have to.
us324592 - I was disputing that it was not mine. Because after all, it could be the truth...just because it was paid doesn't mean that I was the one who incurred and/or the debt. Even if I did pay it, that should not be construed as an admission of liability. I would try disputing several times, then if that doesn't work start writing letters to the CA. What I have found through my journey of deleting paid collection accounts is some bad news and some good news. Bad news: the FDCPA doesn't do crap for you, because you have paid your debt (I know, that's real fair). Good news: since the CAs already have what they want (money) they will--as I previously read somewhere here--"just want to make you go away". So, keep bugging them with letters!
