How Do I take care of this public record?

[Anonymous]

I have a PR on my credit reports from 11/04 for a broken lease agreement for $1014. I want to take care of it, I have the money to PIF, but I have a problem. I went to the apartment complex who directed me to a collections agency. This collections agency said they have no record of me. I went back to the apartment complex who still had my files, showed me the charges that built up to the judgement amount (which I didnt dispute), but this did nothing for me since I couldnt pay them, and I couldnt pay the collections agency. I want to buy a house very soon and dont know how to proceed. Please help, it will be appreciated. (also, how much does everyone think paying this off will affect my credit score?)

Edit by cheddar:  I removed your full name from your post.  Please refrain from posting any personally identifiable information.

Message Edited by cheddar on 03-12-2008 01:05 AM

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the FICO Forums, Drachen!

I'll leave the question of how to "handle" the PR for others to answer, but as far as your last question goes, unfortunately paying a PR will not affect your score at all.  FICO treats a PR the same, regardless of whether it is paid or unpaid.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I have a PR on my credit reports from 11/04 for a broken lease agreement for $1014. I want to take care of it, I have the money to PIF, but I have a problem. I went to the apartment complex who directed me to a collections agency. This collections agency said they have no record of me. I went back to the apartment complex who still had my files, showed me the charges that built up to the judgement amount (which I didnt dispute), but this did nothing for me since I couldnt pay them, and I couldnt pay the collections agency. I want to buy a house very soon and dont know how to proceed. Please help, it will be appreciated. (also, how much does everyone think paying this off will affect my credit score?)

Edit by cheddar: I removed your full name from your post. Please refrain from posting any personally identifiable information.

Message Edited by cheddar on 03-12-2008 01:05 AM

---

I would think that the best way to handle this is if it was me would be to do the following:


Type a form showing you intend to pay the amount showing on your public records, and below will be the statement from your landlord declaring the have turned over the charges to a collection agency.

Type a form showing you intend to pay the amount to the collection agency showing on your public records, and below will be a statement showing you cannot locate the collection agency. You may try to send a CMRRR if you have the collection agencies address.

You may find out where it was filed by verifying information from your CRA then going to the County where it was filed showing the file number. The county should be able to give you enough info to pursue this journey.

After all is said and done, present this to the CRA and have delete the file, if not to make a notation that the intention to pay your debt have been exhausted. You can show all of the information and back up you can gather and hopefully it will help you get your loan.

[Anonymous]

Yeah make sure you PFD that record and get everything in writing before you pay them. Paying it off will not increase your score and you will be considered High Risk with mortage companies when you apply. Its happened to me. One Public Record can ruin everything when looking for a home. Even if it's on one report.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thank you, does anyone have any idea how the letter I send to the apartment complex should look? How about to the collections agency?? I am a noob and would appreciate any help.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I just typed this myself, how does it sound?? Any suggestions for changes. I really dont want to mess this up so help is greatly appreciated
Apartment Complex
Address
City

Re: Public Record, Judgment Case #
Amount: $1014.00

To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to inform you that I am seeking to satisfy this judgment. I have been in contact with your office who told me that I had been referred to a collections agency. They provided me with the agency’s telephone number and the name of the person I should talk to (Tom). Unfortunately, when I called the number provided, the representative who answered told me that there was no Tom who works there. She then proceeded to check the files and told me that they have no records of me owing anything. I called your apartment office again who provided me with my account information (the records of my rent charges and payments, etc.). Unfortunately, this did not help me.
The purpose of this letter is to request proof, in writing and on company letterhead, that my account has been referred to a collections agency, what collections agency it was referred to, and any other pertinent information that will allow me to satisfy this judgment. If this judgment is an error and no record thereof can be found, I am requesting a letter, typed on company letterhead releasing me from all liability for this judgment.
This office has, gratefully; been very willing to work with me so I expect a response within 30 days detailing the aforementioned information. If I do not receive said response within thirty days from the receipt of this letter, I will pursue my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration
Please address all correspondence regarding this account to:

Name
Address
City
Fax#

Message Edited by Drachen on 03-12-2008 08:11 PM

[Anonymous]

bump.

[Anonymous]

Sounds good Drechen

[treschic]

I'm not an expert, and i'm not a lawyer.  But, if it is truely a judgement, you can either go to the court house or call the court, and find out what lawyer is handeling the judgment. sometimes, they put a judgment on your CR, and you may not really even have one.  On your credit report, it should state who filed the judgment, rather it was the OC or the CA.  and usually the case or docket number is the acct# that they list.  then send a letter or call the atty.  i am personally trying to do the same thing, but i live in a completly different state, so i hired an atty to take care of this.  it may cost you some money, however i'd rather be sure that it is taken care of completly and legally rather than trying to take care of it myself especially since i don't have the time to fly back and forth half way accross the country.  but, thats my experience. i hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

Update on judgment

It was deleted on all 3 CRAs, they however answered me in re: my validation letter with just the information of who the OC is and the Account Number.

I happen to start googling a lot of website, and after I get my papers, I am planning on filing to vacate this judgment. I found out that the OC should have filed the Civil suit against me, not the CA which was filed by a lawyer representing the CA not the OC. I still am keeping my fingers crossed because I don't trust this CA