I'm all choked up

[future]

boy oh boy!!!!! I'm all choked up, my scores have dropped from 700 down to crap  i checked my cr and there it was, a ding. i finally got my scores where i wanted to have them and they knock me right back down, makes me feel like all my hard work was for nothing...  the ca is licensed in my state i checked(debt recovery solutions)  does it make sense to dv them or should i put together a pfd letter.  i want this off asap...  its for a verizon landline, i dont remember if we paid it.. it had to occur when we switched phone carriers for a different  house plan... anyone and everyone please give your advise and help... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaARH

[SmartCookie]

Sorry to hear that future but this is fixable so take a breath.  Breathe!!!!  

Assuming this is within collecting and reporting SOL, do you remember your old phone #?  If so or if not, call Verizon today and ask for their collections department.  Find out from the rep what the details on the account are and explain you believe it was paid.  I am guessing that they will say no it's not.

They take a long time to sell debt if at all.  Crossing fingers they still own it.  Get the mailing address of the VZ collections dept and do a PFD (modified to include them removing any CA activity on reports or otherwise) ASAP. 

They'll be all over it if they own it.

Scores will pop back.  Think zen.

[future]

thanks smart cookie. i called verizon they said they no longer owned the acc. they also said that they didnt have any info on the acc, and that i should contact the ca in regards to the info im seeking, but she did say the name of the ca, i guess this who they deal with. i dont mind paying as long as i can get a pfd....just so i can get my scores back on track. she indicated that the account gets cleared(to a 0) when they hand it over. Im so aggravated if i dv them, do you think that could make my chances of the pfd better. 

[SmartCookie]

Ok glad you verified the info but sorry that VZ does not own it.  BTW if VZ is reporting anything at all, GW it.  From what you are saying I am reading this as only the CA is reporting.

A lot of people are firm on no PFD to a CA before a DV.  I'm on the fence... depends on what is currently the situation.  If you can wait it out 30 days, I say DV... and if you really think it might have been paid, maybe just start with a dispute now since that's easier... and if they verify, go to DV.  I don't think DVing increases chances of them taking a PFD and possibly might irritate them...possibly...but that is no reason not to DV if you need to.

If you do not have time to spare and think there is a fair chance you owe this, and you can afford to pay it now.... PFD ASAP.

PDQ even. 

[Ausfarm]

I agree except I don't think I would dispute before DV'ing.  Until they respond to your DV, they have to cease collection activity (e.g., reporting to the credit bureaus).  So, (I think)  if you DV and wait a few days then dispute.  When the CRAs come asking for verification, they may not act b/c they're got to respond to your DV first. 

[future]

im not to sure of the yr this may of happened, but if its still under the sol, can the ca try to sue after i dv them. 

[SmartCookie]

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future wrote:

im not to sure of the yr this may of happened, but if its still under the sol, can the ca try to sue after i dv them. 

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Yes they can, moreso if it was for a high debt and especially if it is close to the end of collecting SOL.

Did you get collections at VZ or just a regular rep?  Make sure you speak with collections and take it to a supervisor there if you have to.  I worked for them and that job was one of mine... and I can tell you it is BS, old accounts stay in the system for YEARS and YEARS.

Don't be worried to give VZ your SSN to check what they have on record, most likely you gave it to them when you applied for new service or moved.  That will help them bring up anything you owed them, sold or not, in a system called REDS.  Ask them to also check for 'dup' accounts with different customer codes for your old #.  Hopefully that will let them find the account and verify what your balance was,when it happened, and if it was transferred with your service to another number or address.

That might help you determine if you want to go right to dispute and/or DV, or just PFD a settlement (or full) offer to the CA.

[future]

ty smart cookie,  the debt is only for 276, which i pd if they are willing to do apfd. yes i did do as you said, i call vz and then asked for the collections dept. the person i spoke with said what i posted earlier. i have yrs of cr and i dont have anything on them from vz or a ca for vz. i need to find out exactly how old this is, so i can know my next course of action. by the way have you every heard of that ca.

[scorepower]

DW has an account with debt recovery solutions for a sprint bill from 1999. they are the biggest @$$%^&#* out there who don't know their stuff. we got a letter from them 8 years later asking us to pay them $1092. i called to understand what we were asked to pay. they gave me the run around and some incorrect information while i was taking notes. i asked them to send me the bill that we are suppoed to pay so i can validate the claim. they said they are only required to send it out once which they already did. well, i advised the rep that we never received it and i would need another one. we talked for about 45 minutes and the guy finally hangs up on me. i called back and the gentleman refused to talked to me and lets me talk to his supervisor. i speak to her and she validates that some of the information their rep told me was incorrect. so i ask her if i don't pay what are you going to do? she goes about telling me it's going to impact your credit and you can't buy a house, etc, etc. i politely tell her that the account is past the SOL and that they can't put it on the credit report. i told her i'll be more then happy to pay if this shows up on my credit report but for now it does not impact me. it's been about 5 months and it stil has not shown up on my credit report. i received another note from them couple of days ago wanting to settle the account for x amount. they're from NY. i really enjoyed talking to these guys!! I would do a PFD if it's for 276 to have it completly removed.

[Anonymous]

Either send them a MO/Certified Check or send them a FOAD letter it is completely up to you.

Past SOL, Past reportable, past them having accurate data.

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@scorepower wrote:
@DW has an account with debt recovery solutions for a sprint bill from 1999. they are the biggest @$$%^&#* out there who don't know their stuff. we got a letter from them 8 years later asking us to pay them $1092. i called to understand what we were asked to pay. they gave me the run around and some incorrect information while i was taking notes. i asked them to send me the bill that we are supposed to pay so i can validate the claim. they said they are only required to send it out once which they already did. well, i advised the rep that we never received it and i would need another one. we talked for about 45 minutes and the guy finally hangs up on me. i called back and the gentleman refused to talked to me and lets me talk to his supervisor. i speak to her and she validates that some of the information their rep told me was incorrect. so i ask her if i don't pay what are you going to do? she goes about telling me it's going to impact your credit and you can't buy a house, etc, etc. i politely tell her that the account is past the SOL and that they can't put it on the credit report. i told her I'll be more then happy to pay if this shows up on my credit report but for now it does not impact me. it's been about 5 months and it still has not shown up on my credit report. i received another note from them couple of days ago wanting to settle the account for x amount. they're from NY. i really enjoyed talking to these guys!! I would do a PFD if it's for 276 to have it completely removed.

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