Greetings everyone. I recently pulled my credit report and found that I have 3 collections that I failed to pay back in 2001. I was very irresponsible and broke at the time, I just want these off my report. I have the money to pay them off. The 3 are: CENTRAL CREDIT/PENN CREDIT $345 (PP&L electric bill) Acct type: Collection Department / Agency / Attorney Date opened: July 2004 Balance Date: Aug 9, 2006 ALLIED INTERSTATE INC $93.00 (DirecTV bill) Acct type: Collection Department / Agency / Attorney Date opened: November 2004 Balance date: Dec 20, 2004 NCO Financial $93.00 (Not sure, could be another CA trying to collect on the DirecTV bill) Acct type: Collection Department / Agency / Attorney Date opened: December 2005 Balance Date: Jan 21, 2006 I am not sure of which steps I should take. I have been searching quite a bit on here and I am not sure what I should do to get the ball rolling. Do I send validation letters to all 3 CA's first and then arrange paying off these debts? Also, I was never notified by NCO that I owed them $93.00. I am not sure what I should do Thank you Jason
You would need to DV all three collection agencies in order to see IF they can validate the debt. You would also dispute all three tradelines through the credit reporting agencies very shortly thereafter. The hope here is that the CA's will verify the tradeline but fail to mark it in dispute. I would see how many tradelines I could get deleted in the above fashion before I made any payment arrangement. You are out of the 30 day window with respect to validation and stopping continued collection activity that may follow thereafter. However, since you've not received anything from NCO, reduce a communication to writing wherein you demand documentation from them stating the amount of the debt, to whom it is owed, etc., within five days from receipt of your correspondence insofar as that is the initial contact. Moreover, tell them you will institute a civil action if they fail to do this OR delete the tradeline. CC your state AG and the FTC. Their tradeline will dissappear within the week.
Would a DV letter similar to this one be ok? I wouldn't send the exact same one word-for-word but I think i get the idea now, thanks a lot apexcrsrv!
Update: I DV'd all 3 of the CA's and NCO Financial was the first to respond: "blah blah blah...we have been unable to locate the matter you have referenced from the information we have been provided. Please provide us with further identifying information such as your social security number, the name of the creditor, the creditor's account number and/or reference number. A copy of any correspondence you may have received from us would also be of assistance...blah blah blah" Like I have noted above, I never received anything from this company nor do I know what it is I owe them or who the OC is regarding this TL. I want to resolve this matter and get the TL removed from my CR, but I do not believe that sending this company my social security number is a bright idea. I'm starting a new job soon and I don't want them harassing me there.
I believe I read on here that the wise thing to do is send them a response advising that you have no intention of giving them your social security # and that if they have a valid file on you they should already have it. then provide them with the last 4 of your ssn only.
I provided them my name, address, and the number of the account which was mentioned on my credit report. I shouldn't give them the SS# then?
