Advice on my credit situation

[Anonymous]

I have been visiting the board for awhile but have never posted.  I've learned alot and I am addicted already!  Well I finally decided to post my situation so I could start trying to clean up my credit and was hoping I could get some advice on where to start.

I have the following negative items reporting on my credit report:

(TU, EX) CMRE Financial Hospital Bill - unpaid  -- placed for collection 1/2008 TU; Date opened 1/2008 EX

(TU, EX) CMRE Financial Hospital Bill - unpaid --  placed for collection 9/2004 TU; Date Opened 9/2004 EX

(TU, EQ, EX) Cross America Hospital Bill (Hospital closed in 2005) - unpaid - placed for collection 9/2004 TU; DOFD 8/2004 EQ; Date Opened 3/2005 EX

(TU, EX) Fidelity Creditors Service Medical Bill - unpaid (I paid $100 directly to CA about 1 year ago) placed for collection 7/2008; Date Opened 7/2008

(TU, EQ) Midland Credit Mgmt Verizon Wireless - unpaid placed for collection 3/2006

(EQ) Verizon Wireless Charge Off Reporting 0 - DOFD is 4/2003

(TU, EQ) NCO Financial Hospital Bill - unpaid placed for collection 4/2008 TU; DOFD 8/2007 EQ; date opened 4/2008 EX

(TU, EQ) NCO Financial Systems BofA - unpaid placed for collection 8/2007 TU; DOFD 9/2005 EQ

(TU, EX) RJM Acquisitions Book Club?? - not sure what this is placed for collection 9/2008 TU; Date opened 9/2008 TU

(EX) Grant & Weber Hospital Bill - unpaid date opened 11/2004

(EX) Grant & Weber Hospital Bill - unpaid date opened 1/2005  (I think these two may be duplicate reportings)

Frontline Asset Strategies - Inquiry not requested by me but its reporting.  I looked them up and they are a collection company.

Any information would be helpful.

My current FAKO Scores are:

TU 646; EX 643; EQ 564

I recently applied for 4 credit cards to build my credit Kohls (instant approval 300); Walmart (instant approval 300); Discover TBD (7-10); Hooters/Merrick (TBD 7-10); Old Navy (TBD 7-10)

Message Edited by sweetestmelody on 11-22-2009 08:08 PM

Message Edited by sweetestmelody on 11-22-2009 09:17 PM

[llecs]

Welcome to the forums!

I'd suggest reading the following:

Common Abbreviations

Credit Scoring 101 - great for knowing what is in your credit score and to see how your score is impacted.

and What Steps Do I Take - great for learning the repair process.

Before doing anything, know your DOFD on each debt. This date is important in knowing your drop off date for each and for knowing whether or not you are in or out of SOL. If you are inside SOL and you do NOT have the $$$ to PIF any given debt, then do not do anything. Wait it out. Sending any letter while inside SOL can lead to a lawsuit and reported judgment. If you are outside SOL or have the $$$ to PIF (if you had to), then proceed. Also assume that any payment to any OC/CA had reset your SOL clock, as some states allow that by law.

Medical debts - I recommend following the HIPAA process. It works for many. You won't find the process outlined in these forums. Try googling "whychat HIPAA".

Midland - If you have the $$$ to PIF or you are out of SOL, then send them a DV letter. If they verify and you agree, then send a PFD. If they agree to the PFD in writing, then send a payment and it'll be deleted.

Verizon CO - send a GW letter (it'll take many). It will deleted sometime in the spring anyway.

NCO - BofA - If out of SOL or have the $$$ to PIF, then send a DV. If they verify and you agree, then send a PFD.

RJM - they are open to accepting PFDs. Send a DV. If they verify and you agree, then send a PFD.

Frontline - wait it out. Look for a letter soon. If you have the $$$ to PIF or SOL expired, then send a DV and go from there.

I'd suggest to stop applying for CCs. The added inquiries and drop in AAoA will lower your FICO scores. You can easily hit the upper 700s with the two cards you just got approved for, assuming you have no others. Adding any others will delay reaching higher scores (assuming that's your goal) by a year or more.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the advice!  I've been reading on the Hipaa process seems a little confusing but I'll give it a try..a majority of my baddies are medical so it would be a great improvement to get those removed.  Another question.. If one of the hospital I went to is bankrupt and no longer exists who would I send the letters to?

[Anonymous]

Wow you weren't kidding about RJM - I just called them offered to PFD..they agreed.  They are sending the letter through email right now.  Very easy to work with.  One down several more to go!  Thanks again!