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Credit card Issues?

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Credit card Issues?

Hello. I'm currently trying to rebuild my credit and as of now my only real issue with my reports are two credit card balances that are a year or so overdue. 

My one credit card I thought was in collections but i just recently (a week ago) got a letter from American Express to settle the balance for 40% of what is due. I was wondering if the credit card company would accept a full payment instead if i agree to pay it all and they agree to delete it from my credit report. I have heard of collection agencies doing pay for delete but will credit card companies? What is the best way to handle this card to increase my score?

Now on the other card I know it has been sent to collection. I received a letter from Van Ru Credit Corp in Feb 2017. I just received a letter from another agency, Northstar Location Services LLC a week ago. I was planning on sending a PFD letter regarding this card but who do I send it too? Why would two different agencies send me a letter within a month of one another? How do I handle this with getting it off my reports?

 

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

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3 REPLIES 3
IOBA
Senior Contributor

Re: Credit card Issues?

If I was you, I would pay AMEX off in full, as soon as possible.

 

AFTER they have been paid in full, ask them to delete the late payments on your credit report.  I have heard that they are reasonable to work with once they have received all of their funds.

 

I would deal with AMEX first.

 

With the second collection, I would call the OC (original creditor) and set up a payment plan.  They may still own the debt, but sent the debt to an outside source for collection. If the OC doesn't own the debt anymore, they will tell you who they sold it to and give you contact information.  Then you can send that debt collector a debt verification letter, if you are in question about any portion of the debt.   If you know it's your debt, then you can ask for a pay for delete (PFD).

Message 2 of 4
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Credit card Issues?

When contacting the collection agencies, if you can't pay off the balance in full, and they put you on a payment plan...be sure to calculate the interest or ask them for an amortization schedule that you can follow.  

 

If you know how much interest they claim you are paying you can check and make sure that's the case and that they aren't overcharging  interest to you.  It's not common that they would charge extra but given the fact that its a late payment, they may try to get extra interest from you in a hidden way.   Don't mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist, just want you to do the i's and cross the t's.  I've heard of this happening with credit card companies.  

Message 3 of 4
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: Credit card Issues?

In response to the question in the original post, yes, you can offer a pay for deletion to an orginal creditor as well as a debt collector.

 

However, both original creditors and debt collectors are subject to the CRA policy, as incorported into their credit reporting agreements, that instructs all furnishers not to delete reporting based on payment of the debt.

The CRAs have a specific business interest in maintaining the completeness of their credit files/reports, thus preserving their value.

 

The extent to which any given creditor might do a PFD contrary to CRA policy is likely dependent upon the degree to which they have concern over potential loss of their reporting ability to a given CRA based on any lack of compliance with CRA policy.

Many furnishers who do grant PFDs will not put such agreement into writing.

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