I had an unpaid $25 medical collection that was reporting on Equifax only, from 2008. It was the only collection on any of my reports, and it was tanking my EQ score. I tried negotiating a PFD with the collection agency, and they refused. I talked to the OC, who wouldn't pull the account back from the collection agency and just let me pay them directly. I got really irritated that no one would work with me over $25, so after some Googling, I used the HIPAA process.
I sent the initial letter to the OC on 8/14/12, and the follow-up letter to the OC and CRA on 8/30/12. I've had no communication from anyone (CA, OC or CRA) on this account, aside from one missed phone call from the collection agency on 8/28/12, and they didn't leave a message. I've been checking my reports daily, and there was no change, until today. The account is gone!
I'm thrilled, but also slightly paranoid. I know that once something is removed by a CRA, they have to notify you if they re-insert it. I have no idea who removed it though, the CA or CRA. Equifax is showing online that I have a dispute "pending", but there is no further information given. I guess they probably removed it?
My concern is that it could just show back up as a paid collection. But I would think that if that was going tohappen, it would just update to paid, right? What if the CRA removed it, and then the CA later tries to update it as paid, could it still be re-inserted then?
My FAKO score jumped 40+ points today. I'm still waiting on a ScoreWatch update to see the real effect on my FICO score. I really hope that this is finally gone for good!
Scores:
07/29/12: EX FICO (Amex) 684 | EQ MyFICO 631 | TU Walmart 695
Current: EX FICO (lender) 705 | EQ MyFICO 699 | TU Walmart 727
First Goal: 700+ across the board - Got it on EX & TU!!!
Goal Score: 640 
