Sears & LVNV same Account reported twice.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your response ByrdMan...

The LVNV collection I already paid in full.  It was for my Sears account which was closed, although still showing a balance.  So the DV, would not be useful for that account at this point.  Am I correct in thinking a GW letter to both?  I know fat chance on the CA.  Hopefully, Sears will remove all /some of the lates leading up to the closure and collection and correctly report my account as not having a balance.  That is really hurting my utilization.

I may use the DV letter for 2 medical accounts showing collection with CA's and not paid that are small balances I believe were my ex husbands.  The only other collection is a Sprint collection for $211 also with a CA.  That account (if it is mine at all) I am sure I paid in full when canceling with them (although I do not have that in writing assuming it was closed).  

All 3 collections are within the last 3 years so I am sure SOL still applies.  I am prepared to pay all 3 with a PFD letter if they come back as verified because they are small and I want them gone!!  I am preparing to buy a home next year and really can not let them sit there until SOL applies.

In your opinion, should I dispute the 3 collections with CRA's first to see if they drop off first?  Then if verified PFD them?  Also, any thoughts on PFD'ing the 3 accts and dispute with CRA's at the same time?  

Thank you again for all your help and any input you might have!

[Junejer]

SAM, I understood that the account was closed, but the CA is reporting a balance correct? If that is the case, then you need to DV them to make sure that they have the right to collect this money from you. Just my very humble opinion. Is Sears reporting the same balance, or just old past dues?

I would be very careful about a DV if it is close to SOL. You want that to be out of SOL or not close (to hedge against a lawsuit). Also, as HappyDays just mentioned in another thread that some states do not have SOL for medical. Be sure that you know what the case is for your state.

I would not do the blanket dispute, as that is an unstable method to use. You might get something deleted from one report, but not the other two and then you have to try to GW or PFD. I think they get mad when you dispute and then try to ask for a favor.

Message Edited by ByrdMan on 02-21-2008 01:12 PM

[Anonymous]

I have had this same problem with lnlv and sears for almost a year now. i have gw both sears and lnlv with no results, not even so much as an answer from either company. this is also hurting my utilization as well. last week i wrote a letter to sears via planet feed back but have not heard anything back from them. when i sent a gw to lnlv several months ago they took the " legally settled for less than full amount" notation off of my credit report and replaced it with consumer disputes this account. this really pissed me off because now it doesnt even look like i paid them at all. i really want sears to delete this account but they refuse to even change the amount owed to zero as it should be since they sent it to a collection agency.  If anyone has any suggestions i would be interested as well. if i dispute this sears entry do i dispute it because the info reported is inaccurate, or is there another reason that we should use?    

[Anonymous]

Good luck w/this, but go after LVNV if you can - they are very sneaky and will report false info forever!  Changing your reporting to say you are 90 days late is the latest one they did to me, and I"m going after them for that...never in my life have they rec'd anything but a dispute (to which NO answer).

Yes, the OC and CA can report - OC reports a 0 balance.  I'll bet a million of someone's money that LVNV "bought" the account - watch ANY/ALL communication closely for your case!

[Anonymous]

Thank you ByrdMan and all who responded.  Ok I will attempt GW letters with LVNV and Sears although beach123 entry about LVNV changing status to disputed scares me.  Yikes 

The info that I owe a balance on Sears is downright incorrect.  They sold to LVNV which I naively paid in full without PFD and shows on my CR.  How and who do we address that with?  Beach123 can you continue to report any progress or helpful info you obtain reference this as we seem to be in the same boat here.  I will do the same.  Good Luck!

ByrdMan on the 2 medical accts, they total about 300.00.  I am willing to pay in full but would obviously prefer a delete from my CR's.  I want to obtain financing for a home next year, if possible and do not want to show unpaid collections on my report.  Any advice?  Wondering if I should take this approach  a) dispute through CRA's  b) if verified DV them directly  c) if verified PFD them  d) if denied pay them and be done with it.

Any advice or opinions on the matter would be greatly appreciated... I need to take some action here

[Anonymous]

Hey Sam!

I will keep you posted!  It's a tricky situation right now, my lender doesn't want me to get into any legal action until I close on a house, so I figure I'll start with the conciliation court docs for EQ first since it's a no-brainer, no payment has ever been made, they just accept whatever LVNV says...

[Anonymous]

Yeay Irvin!  Confirming you had an LVNV acct that was paid and a Sears showing the same amount still due with a balance?  Making sure our situation is the same. 

Can you please advise if your dispute was through the 3 CRA's and what your reason and wording was for disputing?  Did you just say same debt reported twice?  Or give a longer explanation?  My concern is they will see one is the OC and one is a CA and say they can both report...verified  grrr

My issue is the CA has been paid in full for this debt already so how can Sears be showing an account with a balance due for the same debt??  Also had you ever contacted these companies in addition to your cra dispute.

Ideally I would like the Sears account deleted as well... Help so that I can word my dispute correctly or in a fashion they will understand what the issue is and i have a fighting chance.

Thank you for taking the time to help us... and congrats!!