Advice for dealing with AFNI

[Anonymous]

Today I got the following from my lawyer who is working with my creditors to work out payment arrangements, including PFDs, so I can improve my FICO score (according to AFNI, the amount owed is $266 [ we offered pay in full via overnight cashier's check for deletion):

On another note, I spoke to the collection agency, Afni Inc., regarding your
outstanding Verizon bill. They are not willing to accept a payment lower
than $133.30. They further advised that they would not delete the entry
from the credit bureaus, however would update it to indicate a "$0 Balance
and closed". Payment must be received by them by this Friday. Please let
me know if you would like to accept the settlement and if you can have a
cashiers check or money order to our office by Thursday. (I will forward the
necessary information to you, once I know your response.)

Does anyone have any thoughts on accepting this arrangement? Will making the changes AFNI is willing to do a generally acceptable outcome? The DOFD is 6/2002.

Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I would try and hold out. I would reiterate that you will pay the FULL amount but only if they delete it. I managed to get two collection accounts removed by AFNI. I offered them a PFD for one account and they deleted two of them, but it was a VERY long drawn out fight about these accounts. In addition, even though they agreed to delete the two accounts, once I submitted my payment, FIRST they updated my report, which stated that I had "settled for less than the full amount" - which dropped my score 20 points and THEN, they requested that it be deleted - this kind of defeated the purpose of the deletion. I would push them some more on it though.

[Mythic850]

Do you recall who you spoke with? In searching the forums, it seems AFNI can be quite reasonable when you deal with the right people. Does anyone know how to find those right people? In my case that started this thread, it seems totally odd that they are willing to accept less than what was proposed. Whose best interest did the rep have in mind? Certainly not AFNI's bottom line. Another AFNI question in particular and about CA in general is how do they handle disputes after they've been paid in full or otherwise. Do they actually take the time to respond or do they ignore it so things just drop off?

[Anonymous]

Here's the number for their executive resolution team.

703-433-4401.

This is a dept that i have been told to talk to

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[llecs]

Chuck, could you verify that phone number?

703 is a northern VA phone number. I wasn't aware that they had offices here.

[Mythic850]

I just called that 703 number and Sprint answered. Perhaps, it's the executive resolution team at Sprint.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry for the nix up on the number, here is the correct one....

 Executive Resolution desk at 800.767.2364 ext 3345

Best of luck and Regards