UPDATE - Six months progress

[azsassycat]

Bill- While I don't need to justify myself to you, I will for the sake of the forums. This board has a good group of people who are LEGALLY trying to cleanup their credit reports and increase their credit scores. Believe me, it would have been easier to just pay all the collection accounts I had rather than go through the legal process I am entitled to. However, I don't believe that since you "suffered" we all have to suffer. First, many of the collection accounts I disputed as "not mine" were listed on my credit report as a "Unknown Collector" with no contact information - tell me how was I supposed to "make good" on my debt if the CA fails to provide any identifying information? Second, my intention was not to use "legal loopholes to get the valid debts dropped or removed", I was willing to pay any collection account IN FULL if the CA was willing and able to validate the debt - you'll notice in my post that (1) many CAs were unable/unwilling to validate the debt and (2) that I paid the collection accounts in full once adequate validation was provided. Third, in Arizona, collection agencies must be licensed to conduct business in the State. I don't see how I am sending "bogus letters to the AG", in fact, I am helping my State collect the license fees they are legally entitled to and helping to create an equitable business environment for those collection agencies who chose to follow the law. Since you don't know me or my situation - even if you've read all my posts, you'd still be in a difficult position to judge - how are you able to determine how much I've "grown as a person" or if I've "learned right from wrong"? Also, in regard to your comment about being a small business owner, I would hope you keep adequate records and documentation (as required by law) so you are in the position to provide validation of debt if your customers request it. Finally, a word to most of the members of this forum - do not let ANYONE tear you down emotionally because you have been late on payments or failed to pay a debt. You are not your debt, and just by being on this board you are taking the actions necessary to gain control of your credit. God bless - heaven knows we need it. Cathleen Edited for spelling Message Edited by azsassycat on 03-19-2008 06:24 PM

Message Edited by azsassycat on 03-19-2008 06:25 PM

[Anonymous]

I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!  GREAT JOB! 

[Junejer]

Some people are just so miserable that the only way that they can live with themselves is to attempt to make someone else feel badly. Some call those types dream-killers, haters, losers...get the picture?

[Anonymous]

Great job Sassy, sorry someone felt the need to try and bring folks down on your post, keep up the good work!

[Anonymous]

SAY

IT

BYRDMAN!!!!

And to add my two cents, the REALITY, AS I SEE IT - is simply this:

1.  This funky 3-digit score we call CREDIT is assisting in ruining people's lives. 

2.. Families who've lost their homes to the sub-prime crisis did so, for the MOST PART, due to subprime lenders!  I'm tired of people saying "they bit off more than they could chew" or "they were living beyond their means".  But guess what, it was the FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS who fronted the loans, folks didn't loan it to themselves.  All most homebuilders wanted to do was throw homes up on a lot and STUFF someone in it so they can get their money and be out.  So let's see..MAYBE if these lenders were a little more concerned about the consumer, and could see past all that green and be honest and say "I don't recommend you purchase a home at this time and reasons being...." (in the SAME vain that companies rely on investment firms to advise them of potential gains/risks pertaining to an acquisition/merger/purchase) then maybe the majority of new homeowners would STILL be in their homes.

Don't get me wrong - the former is certainly true in a great deal of cases and consumers did bite off more than they can chew. But tell me how would you feel if you purchased a home and was comfortably managing a $1200 mortgage then BOOM, rates change and you're now paying $2600?  In the real world, you GO INTO a mortgage on a budget and in the real world, most families with moderate-to-average income DONT have $1500 wiggle room in their budget to pay an newly inflated mortgage!

As far as I'm concerned, that's what the banks get cuz guess what...NOW they have a SHYTLOAD of homes they don't want and they can't move (can you say "buyers' market?)  so what goes around comes around.  Instead of them accepting a reality check and being more flexible or even stepping outside the box and coming up with an innovative way to keep families in their homes and money in the bank's pockets, they've helped contribute to what we have right now...a mortgage crisis.  DISCLAIMER: I am not referencing all banks, homebuilders, etc....only the ones that know they were wrong

3.  NOW, as for CA/JDBs I say "to hell with them" they are not worth a dayum - NOT ONE.  I've literally seen my neighbor have a nervous breakdown behind them (she fell seriously ill and was hospitalized for months - lots of med bills), I've seen a coworker run off the job in tears from harrassment by the jerkoffs!  I have witnessed them scare a relative in to selling off most of his possessions because he was told they were taking him to court and the judge would allow them to confiscate everything he owned to settle his debt -which was only a $187 bill that we later found out was NEVER HIS!  And guess what, he's got LOTS and LOTS of shiny new possessions courtesy of that CA and can continue to have them for a long time to come.

They ruin lives!   I will NEVER pay one - PERIOD and when they get up off their high horse and function with some decency then I may change my view.....(watching my now jet black hair gray in the mirror wtg for that day).

But the bottom line is NO TWO SITUATIONS are the same when it comes to a person's financial/credit life. If someone wants to atone for their past financial mistakes so be it.  If one wants to use the laws to their advantage to shirk creditors (AS THEY DO TO US on the regular) then so be it.  Who am I, you, or anyone else to point the finger?

Okay, I'm done....Good luck to all!

[Anonymous]

  OOPS!

THAT'S FANTASTIC SASSY!!!!!!!!

[preci0uz]

Wow congratulations!!!

You must feel ecstatic!

How did you DV Unique National Collections?

I have a collections with them and they REFUSED to delete or accept payment, so i paid the library and the lady said they delete it automatically but nothing happened and UNC claims they don't delete.

Can I still DV them?

Congrats again!!

[Anonymous]

wtgggggg ByrdMan      very well stated!

[Anonymous]

You have done excellent sassy!!!!!!!!   Don't waste you time on lurkers!!  It isn't easy to look that other way but they are not worth your time.

Don't wait for that collection to fall   dispute it as *not mine*   they should delete as they are already in trouble with AG and FTC      You did file with their AG and the FTC  right    if not do it!

[azsassycat]

Preci0uz-

Go ahead and DV UNC since you have paid the library - that's what I did. Here's my timeline with UNC:

Returned overdue library books and paid fines in full

Sent UNC a DV letter via CMRRR

UNC signed for DV letter

No response to DV letter within 30 days as required

Waited five days

Sent UNC a DV follow-up letter via CMRRR

UNC signed for DV letter

Disputed UNC account with CRAs via fax

Received response from UNC - will delete collection account

Collection account deleted from CRAs