Newbie Advice Please--a bit long

This is my first time to post anything on any board, and I could sure use advice/assistance quickly. I'm not too sure of the abbreviations, et cetera, so please bear with me. Here's the background information (Sensitive nature and trying to paraphrase for my sanity and to keep my emotions down).

At age 17, eldest daughter was found to have a premalignant condition and received extensive medical treatment.

1997: At age 15, stepson burned over 85% of body from gasoline explosion; personal son (also 15) burned while pulling stepson from inferno; youngest daughter (16) blamed herself for having hubby and me away from home at time of accident, thus became suicidal; hubby beside himself with grief/blame (his only natural child); personal son completely blocks incident from memory; stepson died four months later. Hospital bills were delivered via 6-inch box -- total medical was over $1 MILLION--insurance paid for most; however, there were investigations and later denials on "experimental procedures" that left our portion of the total medical over $250,000, which we paid off over time. We did not give a rat's a$$ about anything but our children and incurred more late payment notations on the mortgage tradeline as well as everything else.

1998: Youngest daughter (16/17) was found to have a tumor in head that killed five teeth, eroded the bone away around the teeth, invaded the roof of her mouth, encroached upon the optic nerve, and invaded sinuses. Nonmalignant but the size of a goose egg when removed. Later that year, same daughter had eyelid ripped off in a freak injury while at work. At the same time the tumor was discovered in youngest daughter, son was found to have a premalignant condition on gums requiring extensive treatment.

1999: Hubby injured on the job; requires surgery and work hardening; off work 7 months.

2000: Hubby scratched leg at work--injury so minor he did not report to employer until the scratch started showing red streaks two days later and his groin hurt. Went to company doctor who immediately hospitalized him for cellulitis. They ran big, full bottles of antibiotics through him for days, which in turn killed all the "good stuff" inside his intestines. He developed a severe bacterial infection that made him begin to hemorrhage. He was sick for a long time from this one.

2001: One week following stepson's funeral, I became sick with female problems, and nobody believed me until 2001 when blood tests revealed I had lost 1/3 to 1/2 of my blood volume. I had surgery to remove what they called a 'fist-sized tumor' that actually turned out to be as large as a 'watermelon.' Another surgeon was called in to assist, blah, blah, blah.

Due to the circumstances listed above, I quit school to be home with our children. My husband was the only one to bring home the bacon, and I was to find a way to pay everything. However, there was a time when I honestly couldn't have cared less about anything, much less paying the creditors. I felt as if there was a curse on me/us because the harder we tried...the harder things became. We did not file bankruptcy; we decided to pay one at a time until they were all taken care of. In 1998, I began a small typing/transcription business at home to help my hubby with expenses, using the skills I learned in school.

2003: In February I responded to an Internet advertisement for a free credit report and FICO score (3-way) through Consumerinfo.com. I knew things would be bad but I was shocked to see them in black and white. As fate would also have it, a week or so after I ordered hubby's credit report we found our dream house in an extremely nice area of town, at a drastically reduced price. That's how I found this board and began learning although not fast enough.

I have researched everywhere and I cannot find information regarding the Dallas/Fort Worth office locations/addresses for the following collection agencies that appear on hubby's report (and I cannot find any of them by searching the telephone numbers as listed on his report):

1) Attention LLC, (877) 370-8739. PAID medical bill listed as closed on Equifax and Experian; listed as open with the medical provider's name under TransUnion.

2) Credit Systems (817) 496-6500. Three PAID medical bills; a fourth one listed with an unpaid balance on Equifax; one of the paid bills shows to be unpaid on Experian and two are not listed at all; TransUnion lists all under the name of the medical providers.

3) Warren, Warren and Associates, (972) 317-4911. PAID medical bill on Equifax; not listed on Experian; listed as "PR Services" on TransUnion with the same info as Equifax.

Would anyone have any information on Diversified International? It shows on his Experian as open with a $708 balance. IT IS A WORKERS' COMP BILL that we were not even supposed to pay. It's not listed on Equifax or TransUnion.

I know hubby paid two of the paid medicals directly to the collection agencies. I believe the remainder of them were paid directly to the medical providers.

What would be the quickest/surest method to clear the paid collection accounts from his report (DanceRat, Nutcase, or Knockout)? Should I confront/write the medical provider at the same time regarding HIPPA? Should I dispute with CRAs at the same time or just wait to see if the CA or medical provider removes?

Has anyone ever had any experiences dealing with late/derog regarding a home mortgage company (GMAC Mortgage) or student loans with Sallie Mae and US Dept of Ed? Would it do me any good at all to ask them to remove the late notations or would I be spinning my wheels? The mortgage is reporting on both of us, and the student loans are mine.

Are these scores too hopeless for us to even try for a new home:

2/28/03 Hubby: Equifax 585; Experian 613; TransUnion 597

3/14/03 Hubby: Equifax 591; Experian 613; TransUnion 625

2/1/03 Mine: Equifax 625; Experian 683; TransUnion 669

3/14/03 Mine: Equifax 645; Experian 715; TransUnion 652

Any assistance/suggestions are deeply appreciated. Thanks in advance.

cgmays

 

Thanks for the replies and the addresses to the collection accounts.

I don't think I told you that no creditor has been paid late in over one year; there are two 30-days notations on the mortgage from 2001 and the student loans show the same (but the 'Previous Payment History' notation sux).

We have talked to a few mortgage bankers. One blew us off but the other two seemed to think they could help us. We just want to qualify for and lock in on the lowest interest rate possible. That's why I was inquiring about the best way to challenge the paid collection accounts for possible removal. I don't want to cheat anyone out of anything -- if we indeed owe the workers' comp bill to the medical provider and the one unpaid listing Credit Systems has listed, we will pay the bills -- but this time, with a bit more knowledge!

I'm open to (and appreciate) any suggestions. Thanks again.

cgmays