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I recently paid off several collections and although they are currently showing as $0 balance on my credit reports, I am desperate to have the items removed permanently. Can anyone make any suggestions? Is there anything I can do?

My Current scores are:
Experian- 574
TransUnion- 592
Equifax- 595

I just need to do anything to get my scores at least to 600. I have been repairing my own credit for almost a year now and I've pretty much seen everything, but this has really stumped me. I have gotten so good, I'm pretty much a credit repair guru, but I'm clueless now.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:56 am Subject:

There is this tactic people use, when first deciding to start paying off collections or original creditors, called "Pay for Delete". Basically, it's a letter you send prior to paying off the debt, that acts as an agreement between you and the creditor/CA, in which you agree to pay, and they agree to delete the negative account completely.

Since you have already paid this off, it is obviously too late for that, but there is another kind of letter called a "goodwill" letter.

The creditors and CA's have no legal requirement to delete these items. This goodwill letter is basically asking them to do you a favor, because you've repaid your debt. Search "credit goodwill letter example" on this forum or others, or just google it, and I'm sure you can find some more info, or find examples that will more closely fit your situation.

I have sent a few myself recently, in an attempt to also clean up my credit. I've received positive repsonses so far. I had 2 accounts deleted, but 3 others that I haven't heard a peep from yet.

Typically, you should wait about 20-30 days and re-send if you don't get a response. These letters, especially if being sent to giant CC companies, will get to a different person each time, and the trick is catching a sympathetic person, or someone having a good day! If you keep trying, your hard work will pay off.

By the way, how long from now are these due to fall off your credit report? It would be 7-7.5 years from the date of last activity.

Guest · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:47 am Subject:

What if the date of last activity is listed as N/A?

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:05 am Subject:

Dispute as incomplete.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:28 am Subject:

Yes, that's correct... dispute with the Credit Reporting agencies as incomplete. They will have to notify the CA or Creditor and get that info. You will then find out when it will fall off your CR. If it's still years away, try the goodwill letter. Depending on your creditor, it may work well!

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:34 pm Subject:

Thanks for the suggestions. I sent the Big 3 disputes via fax last Thursday, so we'll see what happens. A guy I am working with for my mortgage gave me the Big 3 fax numbers for disputes in which they have 5 business days to correct inaccurate information, so I use those numbers 24/7 now! By using this method, my score has jumped 69 points in the past 2 months! I still need more of a boost, so I am trying to get paid negative accounts deleted.