topic Re: Where to start? in Rebuilding Your Credit

Where to start?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:03:24 GMT

Alright here is my situation. I got in way over my head a couple years ago, and was living beyond my means. I'm currently deployed, and have paid off $15,000 in debt in the last 3 months. I'll have the last $4300 paid off in less than 30 days. While this has helped my credit a lot by paying these things down, now I'm trying to focus on all the negatives. And honestly, it's just so overwhelming I don't know where to start. So I'll give you guys a breakdown and hopefully you can help me figure out what to do.

COLLECTIONS

Account: CCS Collections

Amount: $188.00

OC: Mediacom

Reporting to: EQ, TU

Date Opened: 12/1/2013 (OC: Late 2012)

Explanation: This was my internet service provider. Horrible, horrible company. Intermittent service, billing issues, very difficult to get ahold of an actual representative. I was on my computer one day and the internet just goes out. I go outside and the Mediacom guy is there putting a lock on the box. I guess I was 3 months past due and they never felt the need to let me know I was late. I should have been on top of my finances and noticed that the payments weren't coming out, but I was young and dumb. This happened probably late 2012.

Account: Credit World Service

Amount: $502.00

OC: Northeastern State University (college credit card)

Reporting to: EQ

Date Opened: 6/1/2010

Explanation: I got this credit card (from the college) for the book store. I charged 4 books to it, and ended up quitting college 2 weeks later. I never even picked up the last 2 books.

LATES

Account: GECRB/Amazon

Credit Limit: Was $610, but reduced to $100

Negatives: Past Due 30 days x 2 (Oct 2012 & Apr 2013)

Reporting to: EX, EQ, TU

Account: WEBBANK/DFS

Credit Limit: Was $1500, now Closed

Negatives: Past Due 60 days x 1 (Mar 2013)

Reporting to: EX, EQ, TU

Account: Military Star

Credit Limit: $2500

Negatives: Past due 30 days (EX Mar 2013, EQ/TU Apr 2013)

Reporting to: EX, EQ, TU

So there it is. All of my wrongdoings. Well not all of them, but all the credit related ones at least. Should I start by sending DV letters to college / internet collections? Or should I just go straight for the PFD? I would like to get those past dues removed through a GW but I highly doubt it's gonna happen. Dell closed my account, and Amazon reduced my limit to $100... Thanks in advance for the advice. I have been putting this off way too long, but I guess late is better than never.

Re: Where to start?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:12:01 GMT

Account: CCS Collections - Call and is if you pay it off if they will delete. If not, try to deal directly with Mediacom assuming they aren't on your report currently right? After settled with Mediacom you can dispute CCS and they will be dropped.

Account: Credit World Service - Same as above.

Account: GECRB/Amazon - Send a GW letter, explain any hardships (were you deployed? divorce? Family emergency?) Etc. Thank them for everything blah blah.

Account: WEBBANK/DFS - Same as above.

Account: Military Star - Again same as above.

Can also try to dispute never late with CRAs - YMMV with closed accounts, they usually have no motivation to respond.

Good luck bud, keep us posted and stay safe!

Re: Where to start?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 03:34:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Account: CCS Collections - Call and is if you pay it off if they will delete. If not, try to deal directly with Mediacom assuming they aren't on your report currently right? After settled with Mediacom you can dispute CCS and they will be dropped.

Account: Credit World Service - Same as above.

Account: GECRB/Amazon - Send a GW letter, explain any hardships (were you deployed? divorce? Family emergency?) Etc. Thank them for everything blah blah.

Account: WEBBANK/DFS - Same as above.

Account: Military Star - Again same as above.

Can also try to dispute never late with CRAs - YMMV with closed accounts, they usually have no motivation to respond.

Good luck bud, keep us posted and stay safe!

Yes, you are correct. Mediacom is not reporting, and never has. I think I will try to send out some goodwill letters and maybe a PFD this week. Thank you

Re: Where to start?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:59:07 GMT

Okay guys. Need some advice here.

Sent a PFD email to Credit World Services for my college debt. I got this response:

Mr. XXXXXXX,

I received your email today. This account has been removed from your credit bureau as of today.

Thank You.

XXXXX XXXXXX

Collection Specialist

Credit World Services

6000 Martway

Mission, KS 66202

913-362-3950 or 1-800-844-4084

This is an attempt to collect a debt. Any Information obtained will be used for that purpose.

What do you guy's think? Do I still need to send a payment? Or was it deleted just completely?

Re: Where to start?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:03:28 GMT

This is the pertinent portion of the email I sent her:

I wish to save us both time and money by settling the above mentioned debt. Please be aware that this is not an acknowledgment or acceptance of the debt, as I have not received any verification of the debt. Nor is this a promise to pay and is not a payment agreement unless you provide a response as detailed below. I am aware that your company has the ability to report this debt to the credit bureaus as you deem necessary. Furthermore, you have the ability to change the listing since you are the information furnisher.

I am willing to pay this account IN FULL in exchange for removal of the debt from the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Transunion, and Experian) within ten calendar days of payment. If you agree to the terms, I will send certified payment in the amount of $502.00 payable to Credit World Services in exchange for the removal of all debt-related information from the 3 credit reporting agencies listed above. You also agree not to discuss the offer with any third-party, excluding the original creditor.

Re: Where to start?

Booner72 — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:05:44 GMT

That's all her letter said? She didn't tell you to follow up or anything? Is it possible the bill was an error and should not have been reported?

If you owe it then you should pay it or you could get bad karma. If you decide not to pay it, that's a risk that they could put it back on your report - right at the moment in time when you are in the middle of buying a house or something.

Regardless of what you do, keep a copy of that letter/email she sent forever and ever in case you need it in the future.

Good Luck.

Re: Where to start?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 22:13:26 GMT

@Booner72 wrote:
That's all her letter said? She didn't tell you to follow up or anything? Is it possible the bill was an error and should not have been reported?

If you owe it then you should pay it or you could get bad karma. If you decide not to pay it, that's a risk that they could put it back on your report - right at the moment in time when you are in the middle of buying a house or something.

Regardless of what you do, keep a copy of that letter/email she sent forever and ever in case you need it in the future.

Good Luck.

That's all she wrote. I owe probably about $200 of it... I saved the email in my records just in case.