@Anonymous wrote:
What was it like? Who was it with & how long did it take? Did you have to do a lot of research & learn a lot before you started? How many calls do you estimate you made? What was your first call like-who was it to; I assume they weren't all fuzzy & warm :-). W/a cc NDS, how much do/can they check your income & expenses?
I pulled my TU CR for the very first time in my life in April, 2007 and learned that I had 3 collections and one charge off on my CR. I then knew I was in trouble and committed to bettering myself.
I found this forum in late August and began reading, reading, reading EVERYTHING that time would allow. Fortunately I had a lot of free time, so I'd spend 3,4,5 hours/day here reading and learning. I spent a month learning what needed to be done before I started the credit repair.
After educating myself, I pulled all 3 CR's and started to clean up the mess I made.
I first contacted 2 CA's on the telephone. I offered to PFD. Once accepted, I paid immediately with a check. The other CO, refused to PFD. I then went to OC and negotiated to PFD with them. It took 3 phone calls, a trip to the bank to get another cashier's check, drove to the hospital and paid them(all 3 were hospital ER bills for my daughter).
Within 45 days all 3 collections were deleted from my CR's.
The charge off I had was another matter. It was from an old Sam's Club acct. with GEMb. I talked to 3 different people, 4 different times in their debt recovery department. After analyzing my account, they agreed to delete the charge off AND the $16.00 amount that was charged off. It was deleted about 45-50 days later.
All of my telephone conversations with the CA's were upbeat and pleasant, because I made them so. Like the old saying goes: "you can't draw flies to vinegar..try honey". I put them in a posture to "help me help them". I took the posture that we were a team, both working towards equitable resolution to the problem. Basically I told the CA's that if they did not PFD, then I would not pay them.
It was a HUGE gamble on my part, to be sure. But working with them, I was able to achieve my goals. To have all the CA's and the charge off deleted.
"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone have your way". I practice this daily.
Message Edited by Sylviatob on
01-22-2008 09:06 AM
