Advice on next steps, if any.

[GettinCreditSavy]

Hello everyone! 

My question is based on my Equifax credit report as it stands now, is there anymore that I can be doing to obtain better results, primarily in regards to the Amex or CPS account or should I just leave things as is, and garden what I have?   I know settling isn't ideal, but at the time it was my only option. 

A little background, I have a Chapter 7 bankruptcy that was discharged in 2005 and since then I have been working to repair my credit, finally hitting an upward stride, so I just wanted to make sure that I am maximizing my results! 

 Any advice is greatly appreciated!  Thank you!

Company	Account number	Date opened	Balance	Status	Additional Info
Cap One		2/2011	$26	Pays account as agreed
Us Dept Ed		5/2006	$25,066	Pays account as agreed
Sallie Mae		2/2002	$0	Pays account as agreed
Bk Of Amer		9/2003	$0	Pays account as agreed	Authorized User
Afni-Bloom		8/2010	$0	120+ days past due	AFNI agreed to delete
Cps/Mail		1/2007	$0	Bad debt/collection	Settled for less than balance owed
Amex		11/2005	$0	120+ days past due	Settled for less than balace owed
Dp Of Educ		4/2003	$0	Included in Bankruptcy	Scheduled for deletion in 12/2011
Dp Of Educ		4/2003	$0	120+ days past due	Scheduled for deletion in 12/2011

[llecs]

The first 4 appear fine. I'd leave them based on info posted.

If AFNI hasn't deleted 45 days from their promise, then send a kind reminder.

I don't know what CPS is. If it is a CA, send a GW asking for deletion. If a OC, then send a GW also asking for deletion.

Amex...send a GW asking them to remove any lates and settled comment. Or ask for deletion...even though it would hurt your AAoA, Amex backdates and you can always regain the history later.

I'd do nothing to the last two. Lates are going to start dropping off here very soon. Hopefully the lates will fall off and it'll continue reporting for you as a positive TL.

[RobertEG]

Afni-Bloom

8/2010

$0

120+ days past due

AFNI agreed to delete

This is the only account that raises a question in my mind.

The debt collector, AFNI, has apparently agreed to delete their collection reporting?

If so, and they have apparently not yet done so, if the now-reported $0 balance is on their collection amount, that indicates that they have reported the collection as already paid.

If you had a PFD agreement with them, I would question why they reported a $0 balance rather than just deleting.  They might (and I stress "might") not follow through on your deletion agreement, since they have apparently already reported your payment, thus closing out their requried collection reporting.

Also, dont expect the 120+ late to be deleted, since that reporting was done by the OC.  You will need an additional GW letter to the OC to deal with any prior derogs the OC has reported.  A PFD with the debt collector wont address any OC account reporting,

I would just keep an eye of this account.

[Shellemilyrose]

I was under the impression that anything from the US Dept. of Education account couldn't be included in a bankruptcy dischargement?

[guiness56]

They can be included in a BK if you can prove that paying them back will cause undue hardship.

[Shellemilyrose]

Hmm, okay.  I have student loans in economic hardship deferment but I was told that the only two types of debts that couldn't be discharged in a bankruptcy was federal tax debts and student loans.  Thanks for clearing that up!

[GettinCreditSavy]

Thanks for the responses.  I had 2 accounts with AFNI and they agreed to delete both, yet this one was never deleted, and the other one was.   So I sent a kind reminder the other day and they said they would delete it, my fingers are crossed that this actually happens. 

CPS is actually Consumer Portfolio Services, and I had an auto loan with them.  I am a little scared and apprehensive to send them a GW letter b/c they are a PAIN to work with and I rather not risk the chance of them reporting anything else negative even though the account is closed and settled. 

Hopefully I will get a SW alert with positive results on the AFNI account along with a little score boost . 

*fingers crossed*

[GettinCreditSavy]

Quick question.  I received a letter from AFNI informing me that they would be submitting a request to the credit bureaus to delete the account from my reports.  Should I send a copy of that credit bureaus as well?

[guiness56]

I would give the CRA time to get it and process it, maybe 30 days, before sending it in.

[GettinCreditSavy]

Ok thanks!!