Mortgage, Here I Come!

[Anonymous]

Hello all!

I've lurked on this site on and off as a non-member for ideas on rebuilding my credit and figured it was time to join to help me get over this last little bit!

As of 9/30/2016 - TU (602) EQ (541) EXP (603)

I'm trying to get my scores above 620 to be approved for a home loan. It will be my first home. Like all, I made stupid credit decisions, and even stupider life choices when it came to debt. After years of battling my poor credit on my own - I am FINALLY down to my last 6 baddies (I started with 26). I need your help getting over this last hurdle. My scores started in the low 400s and now sit on average of 550. I acheived this by using free sites like Credit Sesame, Credit Karma and Quizzle. 

Here's what I have left and current status :

1. Payday Loan #1 - $1,225 - Sent 50% settlement pay for deletion offer letter 10/2016
2. Payday Loan #2 - $871 - Sent 50% settlement pay for deletion offer letter 10/2016
3. Medical Debt #1 - $109 - Sent HIPPA letter requesting validation and proof I gave them permission to my personal medical information
4. Medical Debt #2 - $540 - Sent HIPPA letter requesting validation and proof I gave them permission to my personal medical information
5. Credit Card Charge Off - $254 - Disputed online. The collection agency provided a invalid mailing address and the mail keeps getting returned as undeliverable. 
6. Apartment Debt - $223 - Paid in full 10/2016 (despite a year of settlement offers, they refused, but agreed to delete it off my reports in exchange for payment in full in. I got this in writing before paying.)

Realistically yes, these are tiny amounts - but I'm trying to keep as much cash in the bank for my mortgage as possible. I've had great success removing medical collection agency debts with a HIPPA letter I found on this very forum. These are the last 2 that 'resold' to another agency, so I resent the letters. 

The payday loans need no explanation. A family member was hurting for money - I ended up paying the brunt of that.

Am I on the right track? 

[Anonymous]

Nothing after a month? Not even encouragement? I'm used to seeing so many positive things on this board...

Here's what I've accomplished since last posting here. I am 9 points away from qualifying for a conventional mortgage loan. I'm hoping that all of the settled debts paid today will reflect positively soon and get me those last 9 points. 

As of 11/18/2016 - TU (611) EQ (567) EXP (616)

1. Payday Loan #1 ($1,225) - Sent 50% settlement pay for deletion offer letter 10/2016. They offered a payment plan of $30/month for 48 months for total amount of debt. Can I counter again? 
2. Payday Loan #2  ($871) - Settled for $543 on 11/18
3. Medical Debt #1 ($109) - Sent HIPPA letter requesting validation and proof I gave them permission to my personal medical information. Tradeline was removed from credit report. No response from the collection agency.
4. Medical Debt #2 ($540) - Sent HIPPA letter requesting validation and proof I gave them permission to my personal medical information. Tradeline was removed from credit report. No response from the collection agency.
5. Credit Card Charge Off ($254) Settled for $177 on 11/18.
6. Apartment Debt  ($223) - Paid in full 10/2016. Tradeline was removed from credit report.
7. TXU ($88) - PIF 10/2016. Still showing on tradelines this month. Called TXU to request an update. They sent another letter and forwarded copy to me.
   
8. Credit One Bank - Over the limit on a positive payment history account where I was listed as an authorized user. I got this reporting removed from 2 of the bureaus, but one still shows. I called Credit One and faxed them a copy. They will resubmit to ensure its removed.
9. Plains Commerce Bank ($254) - Balance for a credit card I never activated. This is one of those "pay $89 to activate". Called them and they stated they closed and are not pursuing this, nor was it with any collection agency. They submitted a letter to the beaurus to have the tradelines removed and provided me a copy.
10. Green Mountain Energy ($492) - Settled account as paid in full for $330 on 11/18.
11. Applied Bank - Had a 30 day late. Sent letter of GW to remove. They responded that they will remove the tradeline in its entirety from my report. No longer showing on my reports as of 11/18.
12. First Progress - Has 30,60 and 90 day late showing on 1 of 2 secured cards that were closed. Sent a GW letter. They refused to make any corrections. Sending another goodwill letter 11/18.

[Fleuriste]

Wow, it looks like you have made a lot of progress.  

A couple of thoughts.  On the payday loan, keep working on them. You may have to offer to PIF for delete, but it doesn't hurt to offer less.

With First Progress, look up the "Saturation technique" thread here.  It is a more effective approach to getting goodwill deletions.  Good luck!

[Anonymous]

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Fleuriste wrote: 

With First Progress, look up the "Saturation technique" thread here.  It is a more effective approach to getting goodwill deletions.  Good luck!

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I actually just finished reading that exact thread. Great minds!

I have my multiple letters printed, stamped, and armed to go out one a day for the next week in hopes they fall into the right unique hands. Fingers crossed!

[Fleuriste]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Fleuriste wrote: 

With First Progress, look up the "Saturation technique" thread here.  It is a more effective approach to getting goodwill deletions.  Good luck!

---

I actually just finished reading that exact thread. Great minds!

I have my multiple letters printed, stamped, and armed to go out one a day for the next week in hopes they fall into the right unique hands. Fingers crossed!

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LOL.  That is a great thread.  They should stickie it to the top of the category in my opinion.

I have 3 baddies total on my report.  One is from 6 years and 10 months ago, one is from 6 years and 3 months ago and one is from last January.  I just send out Round one on the January baddie.  I was going to let the other two age off, but I decided to give the 6 year, 3 month one a go.  I wrote my letter and I will send it out on Monday. Nothing to lose, right?

[boog13]

That's great progress! Congratulations! Can you tell me the collection agency for the apartments that was willing to pfd? Also which agency was collecting for the medical that was removed? I'm about 6months away from a mortgage and trying to remove RS Clark for an old apartment and i have 3 medical bills i need to get deleted if possible.

[Anonymous]

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@boog13 wrote:
That's great progress! Congratulations! Can you tell me the collection agency for the apartments that was willing to pfd? Also which agency was collecting for the medical that was removed? I'm about 6months away from a mortgage and trying to remove RS Clark for an old apartment and i have 3 medical bills i need to get deleted if possible.

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The apartments were RS Clark & Associates based out of Texas. They are tough SOBs. The debt I had was only $254 and 7 years old and they still refused to settle for anything less. I ended up just agreeing to pay to delete it. They were super nice about it though. I dealt with a lady named Pam who made sure I got all my documents as I needed to remove it from my credit.

As for my medical collections, they were both with a collection agency named Commonwealth.

[Anonymous]

Only 3 baddies?! You are doing great compared to me! I was once at 22, now im down to 5-8 depending on which report is pulled. Slowly but surely!

I sent off my second round of goodwill removals today for a 30 day late I had with a company. Just one, right when I found out I was getting divorced. Never late before, or after in the 2 years I had that secured card. I hope it finds its way into the hands of a compassionate person. Best of luck on yours!

[babypowder]

congrats to you!  keep up the good work!  im also looking into buying a home too.  

[Fleuriste]

I had 12 baddies a year ago. Eight of them were collections that came off super easy. (Subsequent car owner got my old car towed after getting 8 tickets.). The towing collection was tougher, but came off after some persistent persuasion from my husband.