I have a few collections listed on my CR that I am trying to have deleted. I want to dispute, but I need to know exactly how. I have read about conflicting ways - some say dispute everything as "not mine" (even if the item is paid), some say don't try to say "not mine" if the item is already paid - say "paid". Coll #1: Gas Co. (old apt) Last Activity 8/05. $2200. I had spoken to the gas company several months ago, and they determined it was not mine (well, not ALL mine) and determined that I only owed about $1000, and that someone else moved inot that old apt and used gas under my name. Is this fraud? ID theft? At one the gas company even turned off the service, then turned it back on under my name! Seems to me I should be able to get out of the whole thing somehow. How to handle now? Dispute as "not mine"? Coll. #2: Elec. Co. (old apt) Last activity 9/04 $66 paid Should I dispute as "not mine" or paid"? Obviously the item is paid, and I would think my answer would be that will not delete because the item was paid and the CR shows it is paid and therefore it accurate so they won't delete - is this correct? Or should I still try to say "not mine" on my first attempt to delete? Coll. #3: Unknown $306 Last activity 4/05 I think this is a medical thing, but my CR doesn't list info, just a series of #'s where the CA name should be, OC = "Not on Record" Should I dispute as "not mine"? Coll.#4: Unknown $63 Last activity 12/04 This is like #3 - no CA name (just #'s), OC "Not on Record" Dispute as "not mine"? Coll #5: A hospital $86 Last activity 9/01 Dispute as "Not mine"? There are 3 other entries under "Delinquencies and Derogatory information on accounts" that show negative: 1. Medical $510 Last activity 8/03 2. Unknown $474 (paid) Last activity 11/01 3. Unknown $69 (paid) Last activity 9/02 In my first 5, there are 2 that are small, and I wouldn't mind paying them if they would go away, but I know that doesn't happen.(they just update as "paid") One of the 5 is paid. Some of these seem old, and hopefully they can't be validated and CB then has to delelte, true? This is all the negatives on my CR - my score is 617 now, and deleting even some would help cross me into a better place. I want to buy house - I want to look at getting pre-approved in the next couple weeks. Please, please advise. Thank you.
send a letter to the ca saying you will only settle if they are DELETED, tell them "Paid In Full" will not be accepted. For medical bills they most the time just want the money and will delete. But if they refuse don't pay until the accept.
I have tried the "pay for Delete" with a couple companies (not sure if it was with one I listed here or not), and it didn't work. They told me they made no error, I was sent notices, and since they didn't make any errors, they didn't have to agree to delete. I have been reading about the nutcase letter, the goodwill letters, and sooooo many tactics, but I don't know which is best to do for these items, and also which is the fastest, or maybe which is the most effective with the first try? Does claiming "not mine" work often the first time? Do I have to explain WHY I think it's not mine? Do I have to send in documents to prove it's not mine? (some places say I should do all of that, but some don't) Thanks for your repsonse.