I need to vent a little, and then I need some help. I attended NHMCCD for a single class around 1998 (I'm digging around to find the exact dates). They've been sending out my transcript since then whenever I've requested it with no problems. Until now. Now that I'm applying for graduate school, I suddenly have a transcript hold with the Business Office. They say that at 'some point' they changed my status to out of district, and I still owed them $540. They have the wrong address on file for me for the time period, AND I learned this morning that the debt had been written off after going to collections "some time ago". I have never seen a statement, collections request, or had this hold come up before when requesting transcripts previously. On the upside, it's been over 7 years, and it's never, ever appeared on my credit reports. I'm digging around to see if I still have a copy of my lease agreement at the time to try and prove my residency was in district, but whether I prove it or not: 1) Does the college have the right to suddenly start hold my transcript hostage for a debt that's beyond the 7 year statute of limitations. 2) If not, what's the best way of gently explaining that to the person working minimum wage in their Business office. 3) If they do have the right to hold on to my documents, I guess I just have to go back and 'prove' I was a resident during the course times assuming I can locate any documentation. or 4) I can pay this ridiculous debt and and get it fixed, but once I pay it, I understand then they can put it up on my credit record as a paid collection for the next 7 years. Any ideas on what would be the best approach to take? Thanks, rfmjb Transunion score 715
The period of time it is on your credit report should be based on the original date of delinquency. If that was over 7 years ago, paying it now should not result in a new negative tradeline. If it does end up on your CR, you can go after them for reaging. Is the address they are claiming is out of the district from before you took the class, after you took the class, a family or relative's address you used for mail only, or never yours? Did you ever use that address in your communications with them while you were attending? Although they can try to collect, or place a hold on records, long after the 7 year limit for negative tradelines on credit reports, they should not be able to place a negative tradeline on your report for paying it. That would be reaging. If you believe their actions were grossly in error, and their incompetent bumbling created this mess, which is improper because you were in fact in the district, you may want to bring pressure thru alternatives available because this is a public institution and not a private company. Community college districts are generally supported by the taxpayers of the district, of which you were, presumably, one at the time. The district is run, and the taxpayers represented, by elected board members. You might get the matter corrected more expeditiously if you request correction thru one of them.
Hi ontrack, Are you certain that my payment wouldn't then age the account? I was under the impression that it's 7 years from the last transaction, i.e. once you start paying on a delinquent account, they get a free 7 years. Am I misunderstanding that? -rfmjb
See FCRA on starting date for 7 year reporting time. Although pragmatically it may always appear simplest to pay off nuisance bills, just as businesses pay off on nuisance claims, it doesn't keep anyone honest. There is no guarantee that your damage is limited to the amount you believe you are paying. Incompetence and sloppy records should not be rewarded. Parties should not claim debts for which they have no records, and public institutions should expect to be held to a higher standard. Politics trumps law.
