small knowledge and update
Date: Sun, 02/19/2006 - 21:16
so I put my theory to work and it paid off. I also have a small medical debt that is on husbands report that I wrote and first asked them to agree to report as paid off, upon me paying them off. They wrote back with a validation. ha! I didn't ask for a validation but they validated. and then started calling me every day. This debt is a couple of years old. I 'APPROACHED' them over it, trying to do the right thing in paying them off....and they use it to harrass me. I wrote them back and told them to back off and reminded them that they never agreed to what I asked them to agree to--to report as paid. Now I'm thinking of going ahead and paying them off and then contacting the bureaus to make them aware that debt as been paid.
You still get credit folks---just if you can't get original creditor or collection agency to agree or talk to you, go ahead and pay it off and then report it to the bureaus, then they will update your report for you. Hope I have helped someone. Shirley
Hi Shirley, and thanks for sharing that with us. I didn't think
Hi Shirley, and thanks for sharing that with us. I didn't think of approaching it that way! I have a feeling this will come in handy as soon as I don't get a response from those validation letters I sent :)
~Mary
Shirley, thanks for sharing the information with us. It is very
Shirley, thanks for sharing the information with us. It is very true that if a person owes to someone, it is his responsibility to pay it off and then see the update in his credit report. The payments made from his side will not go in water because there is proof of all the facts. If the company is not doing their required job, there are ways to handle the situations but it should not stop them from taking the responsibility and pay off the account.
Mary, follow all the rules if you have a responsibility towards some company. If a collection agency is not validating your debt, give a thought first before you still pay them. Ask yourself first, why they couldn't validate your debt? Don't they have your account details? Did they make a false call to you? Did they put your account inaccurately? With such questions in your mind, still if you pay to some company that does not have your accounts, chances are that you will lose your money. If you are not getting your account validated, call your original creditor and tell them about the latest. If they have your account details, make payments to them. They will notify the collection agency that has been hired to collect from you. This way, you will figure out the false CA from the eligible one.
John, your points are important. Several of the accounts that I
John, your points are important. Several of the accounts that I have I am sure are not mine. I will be sure to take care in how I handle the accounts...I am definitely not going to pay for an account that is not my responsibility. Thanks! :)
~Mary
Correct, if it is a problem in dealing with the collection agenc
Correct, if it is a problem in dealing with the collection agency, ask the original creditor to prove the account if you owe to them. Mention that your credit is being negatively hurt because of this unknown account. Under the FCRA laws, your credit report should present the actual credit history. These letters of correspondence will help you in getting the exact details of the accounts. If everything fails, it will be an important proof for explaining the credit bureau reporting the account.
Mary, do you mind telling me the name of the company with this wrong account?
Hi John, The main account that I am worried about is from Fe
Hi John,
The main account that I am worried about is from Federal Bond Collection. It says that the original creditor is Bank Of America. It was placed for collection in 9/2004. I haven't had a Bank of America account since I think 1998. I was never contacted about this account. This confuses me! So I sent a debt validation letter. Of course, if somehow the debt is mine (which I am 99% sure it isn't, unless I somehow lost my mind and got some kind of Bank of America account) then of course I will pay it. It is for $198.
That is the main one that I am worried about. I also have one with Professional Coll. Consul. (that's all it says for the name of the company) for a Pacbell/Cingular wireless account. I am sure that I paid that in full, so I am surprised to see it on there. I need to really dig through some records to find the proof that I paid, but I know I did. :)
~Mary
OK, you can verify the details you have with BofA. If it is in t
OK, you can verify the details you have with BofA. If it is in their system, they will give you more info. Otherwise, they will write back a letter stating their mistake. This letter will make your dispute stronger with the CRA.
Do you have the previous credit reports which mention the account of Pacbell/Cingular as "paid"? If you can find other proofs as well, you will make your dispute only stronger.
I will definitely look at getting a hold of BofA and see what th
I will definitely look at getting a hold of BofA and see what they have to say to me.
I don't think the Pacbell account ever reported on my credit at any point, until it was in collections. But I do think that I have a credit card statement that shows my final payment to them, and somewhere I have a final bill from them. I have to dig for it!
~Mary