logo

Debtconsolidationcare.com - the USA consumer forum

Should I Pay the Settlement Offer or Not?

Date: Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:19

Submitted by lzfyy
on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:19

Posts: 3 Credits: [Donate]

Total Replies: 9


I owned a debt from Washington Mutual about 3 years ago. The debt amount is about $5,000. Now the debt is collected from a collection agency called Protocol Recovery Service, Inc. The settlement offer is about $2,000. The agency called and mailed me several times, I didn't answer back. I'm thinking about paying the settlement, but I don't know it is the right thing to do. I would like to ask you the following questions before making any decisions: Is paying the settlement will help my credit history and improve my credit score? What will happen after I paying the settlement? Is this debt over and I don't need to deal with it anymore? Will the record of this collection be eliminated from my credit history? I'm a international student that study MBA in Los angeles, CA. I got this debt because struggle to pay my tuition when I was undergraduate. I really want to get rid of this debt and have a better life, but $2000 is still a big amount for me. That's why I'm looking for help from you and I hope I will get what I need. Your help is appreciated. Thank you!


In order to insure you will not hear anything more, you must get the offer in writing along with a statement that clearly states the debt has been settled 100%. If you get that and pay the amount, the hastle of the debt will be done. However, the bad marks will remain on your credit score for 7 years I believe.


lrhall41

Submitted by da_ziegler on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:24

( Posts: 26 | Credits: )


Quote:

Is paying the settlement will help my credit history and improve my credit score?


Settled for less will not improve your score

Quote:
What will happen after I paying the settlement? Is this debt over and I don't need to deal with it anymore? Will the record of this collection be eliminated from my credit history?


Unless you have an agreement in writing prior to paying that stipulates that they will not sell off the remaining balance, this could come back to haunt you later. Likely it would be reported as a paid collection unless you can get it in writing for a deletion


lrhall41

Submitted by NASCAR_Devil on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:26

( Posts: 4671 | Credits: )


If you can pay it I would. Personally I wouldn't want collectors calling me for the next ten years and with todays economy and the amount of the debt it wouldn't suprise me if you got sued. Depending on your states SoL.

Since you don't answer your phone I will assume you have the settlemnt offer in writting. If you don't I suggest you get it.

It will not help your credit report immediatly if you pay the settlement. It will help in the long run. Everytime a collection agency makes an inqury on your report it hurts. This will stop. It will also stop getting updated as nonpaid. It will stop collection agencies from attempting to find you at work, through relatives or neighbors and at home.

If you pay the settlement then you will need to find out when you can get a zero balance letter. A zero balance letter simply states that the debt has been paid and you owe no more.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 05:28

( Posts: | Credits: )


it will eventually be better for your credit. on your report it may show something like "settled" instead of it still being nonpaid, or unpaid. Eventually your credit will go back to normal if you start on the right track and pay your new or outstanding bills on time. I have alot of "settled" on my reports and my score is better than it ever was because after i went through my settlement company, all new accounts were kept current. I would definitely take the offer its a good one and it will help you later but like the above post be sure you get it in righting. So later it does not come back to haunt you again


lrhall41

Submitted by love_my_things on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 06:56

( Posts: 1434 | Credits: )


You need to first check the statue of limitations for your state as some States are as little as 3 years, after that they have to wipe out the debt and you owe nothing. If you inform the collection company if the limitations they have to honor it.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 15:43

( Posts: | Credits: )


Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymous
You need to first check the statue of limitations for your state as some States are as little as 3 years, after that they have to wipe out the debt and you owe nothing. If you inform the collection company if the limitations they have to honor it.



Dead wrong!

Statutes of limitation do indeed vary by state, but passage of the SoL period does not wipe out the debt. You do still owe the debt. You just can't be sued for it after the SoL has run.

Also, when you check the SoL period for your state, pay attention to the account type. Different types of debts often have different SoL periods in the same state.

Further, be advised that SoL is completely separate from the federally-controlled reporting period. That's the time that the debt can legally be reported on your credit report. 7 years from the charge-off date, or 7 1/2 years from the date of last activity on the account.


lrhall41

Submitted by unclewulf on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 16:08

( Posts: 3172 | Credits: )