topic Re: Pay for delete online collections in Rebuilding Your Credit

Pay for delete online collections

jg1983 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:29:43 GMT

Hey everyone. I recently checked my credit report and saw a collection account from online collections for a utility bill I don't believe I owe. I called them yesterday and asked about a pay for delete. I was told due to covid they are deleting all paid accounts until the end of the month. I don't trust them so I asked for something in writing and they refused. If I call back and record them telling me they will do a pay for delete is that as good as having it in writing? Would you guys suggest I pay it and hope they follow through on what I was told? It's not a big bill but the important thing is getting it removed from my credit report so I can apply for a mortgage. Would something like this be enough to disqualify me from a mortgage assuming everything else on my credit reports is good?

Re: Pay for delete online collections

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:59:48 GMT

Yes, that is true. Online collection will delete once account is paid. I recently paid my husband's collection with them and they deleted as stated.

Re: Pay for delete online collections

gdale6 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:02:16 GMT

Verbal agreements are just as enforcable as written. There are ways to get them to do what they said they will do if for some reason they dont. You say you dont believe you owe it, if you dont know who the creditor is and it truly isnt yours you can use the laws afforded you in the FCRA to have it excluded from your CR due to ID theft. If you have done business with the OC you might give them a call to see whats up.

Re: Pay for delete online collections

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:59:01 GMT

Make sure you record I just got in this issue where I was told my collection would be gone in 30days, when the 30 days came it was still on even after my credit update. I called and they told me they did not do PFD & haven't done it in 5 years+ ..... I reported this to the BBB and called back the next day the manger of the CA knew who I was and told me they sent in the request for deletion. Thank god I had all that recorded.

Re: Pay for delete online collections

jg1983 — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:02:45 GMT

@gdale6 wrote:
Verbal agreements are just as enforcable as written. There are ways to get them to do what they said they will do if for some reason they dont. You say you dont believe you owe it, if you dont know who the creditor is and it truly isnt yours you can use the laws afforded you in the FCRA to have it excluded from your CR due to ID theft. If you have done business with the OC you might give them a call to see whats up.

I know who the OC is. They are an electric company I had service with. I just dont agree with the amount they say I owe. It is less than $100 and like I said I am trying to get a mortgage so if I can pay it and have it removed from my credit that is quicker and easier than disputing it (which is my second option if pay for delete is not an option). I think I'll call them back and get a recording of them saying they will do a pay for delete then call back again once I confirm I have a good recording and pay the balance.

Re: Pay for delete online collections

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:33:19 GMT

@jg1983 wrote:
@gdale6 wrote:
Verbal agreements are just as enforcable as written. There are ways to get them to do what they said they will do if for some reason they dont. You say you dont believe you owe it, if you dont know who the creditor is and it truly isnt yours you can use the laws afforded you in the FCRA to have it excluded from your CR due to ID theft. If you have done business with the OC you might give them a call to see whats up.
I know who the OC is. They are an electric company I had service with. I just dont agree with the amount they say I owe. It is less than $100 and like I said I am trying to get a mortgage so if I can pay it and have it removed from my credit that is quicker and easier than disputing it (which is my second option if pay for delete is not an option). I think I'll call them back and get a recording of them saying they will do a pay for delete then call back again once I confirm I have a good recording and pay the balance.

A CA under $100 is considered a "nuisance" collection and is not factored into newer scores like Fico 8 amd Fico 9, but it is definitely factored into older scores like your mortgage scores. You definitely want to get it deleted, while paying for it will help you move forward with the mortgage UW, paying it alone will not improve your mortgage scores.

I agree with the poster above, they are known to PFD, and this is actually frowned upon by the 3Bs (credit reporting agencies), so that is why many of the CAs refuse to put it in writing. Most times, they do follow through and delete once paid when a verbal agreement is made (if this is not part of their publicly displayed written policy). Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith when they refuse to put it in writing, but it absolutely a good idea to record in a 1-party state. If you are in a 2-party state for recording conversatuons, you will need to let them know you are recording them.

Good luck!