I have this posted in another thread started by me, ("Trying to clean up...") but it may be getting buried and I could really use advise on a couple of things. After I disputed the negs on my CR, this is what was left over. 1. Elec. bill from another state.Placed for collect. date = 12/04 paid to CA 12/05 Originally, all 3 CRA's reported this item, but now, 2 of the 3 deleted, but one (EQ) did not. They updated to the positive area of CR, and added a note that they want me to contact them. What could they want - it's already paid? Usually you should not contact CA but it's paid so I know they don't want money, and I'm hoping to get it removed by this last CRA. I think I should call them, but please advise. 2. That $63 hospital bill, not pd., but I have a plan now, and if that doesn't work, I'll follow the steps - DV, AG/BBB, etc 3. Phone bill from another state. Placed for collection 3/05; paid12/05 This is on 2 CRA's. $94 CA = West Asset (that's who I paid) 4. Medical bill. Placed for collections 8/05 paid12/05 to CA $306 Typical next step is to DV the CA, I think. But in these cases, is there another suggestion? Some of these are not that old, and they may be able to validate. Maybe Goodwill letter (or don't waste my time on that?) AG/BBB? If I go that way, should I write a letter to CA informing this first? (of course I know if I do anything by mail, it's CM/RRR) Other suggestions? From readings, I know these are options, but this is where I think what people should do next may vary with each unique situation. I'm especially curious about #1 - about contacting that CA. Interesting that they deleted from 2 of the 3 reports, but left it on one and wants me to contact them. Has anyone ever heard of that, and what is that about? Should I contact them? I want to get it off that last CR, and am thinking if I contact them, maybe I can, but then the words "Never talk to a CA" rings in my head. Thanks
Correction: This account by deleted by one (TU), updated by another (EX), and verified by the third (EQ). How does the same account answer to a dispute in 3 different ways? Also, RE: the question about contacting then as requested in my EX dispute report. Since I did not receive advise on this, I called the number as given to me on that dispute report. I got a man's cell phone! I asked him if this was 1-888-XXXX and he said yes. EX is also reported the lowest score and it is outragously low - by 130 pts. My other scores are 621, 647. (still too low considering...) EX = 517. When I look at reports, of course there are a few differences but nothing major. Seems like EX is making mistakes... This whole mess confuses me. Wanted others to know. I'll try something else on another day. Advise still welcome.
sometimes it takes a few times disputing to get it wiped off. do a bbb atty gen complaint and see what happens. you can also do a nutcase letter (i'm going to sue you with technical legal jargon) with the bbb atty gen one two for a tko and let them know you are not going away. good luck
I'm keepin at em! Those 4 remaining items are now down to 3 (or it should be soon - this week, if all goes as it looks like). Last week I got a PFD on the $63 hospital bill. I'm a bit nervous until I actually see it happen. There is nothing in writing, but there is a recorded verbal agreement to this. I was told it should reflect this week. The only 3 items left are all paid, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle them. I'd really like advise on this one item. A paid medical - $306. Date Placed for collection = 8/05 Date paid = 12/05 This is an outside CA (I checked with the OC/hospital). I have previously written a goodwill letter (may, 2006). I disputed the CRA - still remains. Since the dispute came back verified, and the account is not old, I beleive they have good records and DV-ing them would just waste time in having them send me info. Also, I don't think I could try the approach of sending a letter saying they are in violation (without being specific) and since they can't pull a CR, hoping they will just delete - again, since this is rather new and recently verified, they will know I do not have a case, so I don't think they will delete. I thought of trying to write to the head of collection for the OC (I got the name today) and writing a goodwill letter, asking that since I stepped up to pay right quickly as soon as I became aware of the bill, I'm asking as a good faith gesture on their part to instruct the CA to remove that item from CR with an agreement to not reinsert at any future time. Hospitals are in the business of customer relations - is there a good chance this could work? is there other approaches recommended? In searching the various letters here (not just in sample letters, in stickies too) I can't find one that seems to work for this case. many refer to credit companies or other businesses as being a good customer in the past - but this is a hospital! I've heard of the FTC/BBB thing, but not exaxctly what that means (I couldn't find detailed info around here on that - just general mentions to use it) I don't know what the complaine would be - that they won't remove this when they don't have to?
Suzie forget the bbb/ftc thing for now, try this. For the medical bills find out who the manager of the business office of the hospital is and send a nice letter asking them to have the ca delete the negative. To this date I have had 7 medical items deleted simply by writing the hospital a goodwill letter, not the ca. tell them you are getting married and you are unable to obtain a loan, that seems to work lol. Don't even bother writing to the ca they already have your money, it wont work. Deal with the hospital or medical office directly. I promise it will work. I see you have 2 medical bills, one paid and one not. For the paid one follow the advice above. For the unpaid one send a letter to the ca telling them you will only pay for a deletion or nothing at all, stick to that. Believe me they would rather have the money and delete the negative then no money. But dont pay unless they agree to a deletion and 0 balance in writing by the ca.
jtc, Thanks for the support - that was what I thought I should do - go to the OC. Today I got the name of the person who is the manager of the collections dept of OC. I will write my goodwill letter tonight. I think I have learned a lot, but I need to put my plans up here to check to see if I'm right before I do something, or get advise if I'm missing something. That other medical - the one that is not paid - that is what I got the PFD on last week! (hopefully) So now there are 3 left that will clear all of my CRA's (well, with one exception, I'll explain here at the end.) I got the PFD by going to the OC, so I thought that might work in case #4 too. I now need to work on #1,3,and 4. (#4 is the one I am working on now with the last couple of posts) The only other thing that I have to deal with is not listed on the first list, but I do need advise on it. Something that was on my CR last year was deleted back in Jan, but last week it was reinserted. (This is all mentioned in another post "Problems with EX") I have a letter dated jan 06 that says how NCO was going to deleted it (and they did then). It is only listed on EX again. I know this can go away easily, I'm just not positive how to go about it. I've had it with EX - I'm calling FTC tomorrow, unless someone thinks I have something more profitable here. - My EX score about 130+ pts lower than the other 2 CRA's. - EX deliberatly did not add 2 perfect TL's from credit union from 1997-2004. I called the Credite union and they verified that they report to all 3 CRA's (which is what I would think anyway). So EX had that info and never reported it all of these years. - Now there is an old account reinserted (I don't know if that EX or the CA - it is not the OC - I already talked to them) So what's the best way to handle that reinsertion? And I will write a goodwill to OV of the $306 medical. Should I handle the last 2 the same way - goodwill to OC? Thanks!
RE: # 4 - medical - $306 - paid. I just noticed this, and maybe this will help, but I need the experts on this. I am looking at my new results from dispute about 1-2 weeks ago where the item "still remains", and I think this is an error that I may be able to use to help get rid of this. The date of service is not listed, but by the account number I know the date of service was 3/31/05. On my new CR they have "Date of 1st delinquency 3/2005." That can't be correct. It could not have been delinquent on that date. Is this where I can send them a letter that says they are reporting false info and unless they remove this nitem, I will take further action, and since they cannot pull a CR now, they won't know what I am talking about, and the item is paid, so they will most likely remove it - do I have that correct - is that some thing I can do here? (I tell ya, I'm still reading and re-reading until I get it! I have invested MANY hours and MANY days reading, I promise. But my time frame is running short - other things will take my time, so i am trying to get as much done as I can, quickly.)
I'm not sure if this is the best way to go, or if I should try goodwill letter first. I drafted a goodwill letter, but I'm afraid it may be a way of admitting some things (like dates, and admitting what I knew and when). So if goodwill letter doesan't work, and I try "you are reporting false info" approach, they will have info from goodwill letter and think I am bluffing and I don't really want to take it to court. Even if I win, I only win a judgement, and trying to collect may be hard or near impossible. Maybe I'm interpreting things wrong. My CR has "Date of 1st deliquency = March, 2005" That is really the date of service, so it could not be deliquent, but maybe "date of 1st deliquency" means "the day this all started". I only want to use the "you are reporting false info" strategy if it's true and as a last resort, in case I have to follow thru all the way. But I am nervous about goodwill letter and putting things in writing. If I go with the GW letter, I'd like someone to proof-read it. Could someone please, let me know if I am understanding the language correctly (date of 1st deliq), and advise on which approach to take. (I also just discovered today that I think I made a mistake by disputing something that maybe I shouldn't have, and it was removed but maybe it was better to be left on, so I really need advise before I take steps, to try to avoid mistakes like that)
On medical accounts, were there any issues of insurance billing, possibly with errors in submitting claims? If so, that can be an effective arguement that negative reporting, or even payments in collection, should be removed, if they were a result of billing or claims errors by the hospital.
I don't know about billing or processessing errors, and I don't know how I would know that info. But in my draft of a GW letter, I cover that possibility a little. Here is just a little part of my GW letter where I cover that: "During the holiday break in Dec., 05 I discovered this bill on my credit report, and paid it immediately when I became aware, without even checking to ensure the bill was in fact even mine. I wasnâ??t sure if all of the insurance coverage had been applied, but I wanted to take care of this matter immediately, so I called Absolute Collections, the name listed on my credit report, and paid this bill in full. The account was only several months old when it was paid." It would appear that my CR has that error I mentioned in my l;ast post, but I could use some clarification of the wording CRA's and CA's use on reports. Before I send a letter that says "you are reporting false info", I want to be sure I understand this. This is the only error I am aware (though there may be others I'm not aware of) Or, should I read between the lines of your post, Ontrack?
