Bad Debt - Deletion/Goodwill Letters

[Anonymous]

A few years ago I got into some debt problems and had 30 - 90 day past due accounts that went to collections.  Thankfully, all my debt was paid off in 2006 (July) and is about to hit the two year mark.  Perfect credit history since 2006 I'm glad to say.

However, the horrible history still remains on my credit and I'm worried about buying a home next year.  I did have a couple of agencies remove their collection from my report when I paid them, but there were a few others that did not give me that option.

I was reading through these forums and have a couple of questions about deletion letters and goodwill letters and was wondering:  Should I just leave it alone?

I have heard stories of people writing to the collection agencies, after the debt has been paid off, and the agency just updates the credit file to say the date you got in contact with them.  Do companies do this - and if so, would that indicate on the credit file that it was a recent debt and screw up the two years that I have worked so hard to stay on top?

I'd like some input since I am not sure what, if anything, I should attempt to do.

Eh, one more question - If the originator of the debt has me down for 30-60-90 days late AND the collections agency - does this hit my score twice?

Thanks!

Message Edited by MML on 06-20-2008 09:51 AM

Message Edited by MML on 06-20-2008 09:52 AM

[Anonymous]

---

MML wrote:

A few years ago I got into some debt problems and had 30 - 90 day past due accounts that went to collections.  Thankfully, all my debt was paid off in 2006 (July) and is about to hit the two year mark.  Perfect credit history since 2006 I'm glad to say.

However, the horrible history still remains on my credit and I'm worried about buying a home next year.  I did have a couple of agencies remove their collection from my report when I paid them, but there were a few others that did not give me that option.

I was reading through these forums and have a couple of questions about deletion letters and goodwill letters and was wondering:  Should I just leave it alone?

I have heard stories of people writing to the collection agencies, after the debt has been paid off, and the agency just updates the credit file to say the date you got in contact with them.  Do companies do this - and if so, would that indicate on the credit file that it was a recent debt and screw up the two years that I have worked so hard to stay on top?

I'd like some input since I am not sure what, if anything, I should attempt to do.

Thanks!

---

As for a manual review, the creditor could see that the collection was from 2006.

If they updated the "last reported date" it could make the collection appear newer. In my experience of DVing/disputing/PFD etc, when they have updated the accounts, it hasn't affected me.

Personally, I'd take the risk and send GW letters. I'd work on having paid collections removed and old lates from the OC removed. You just have to be careful when GWing OC because some will find it easier to completely remove the whole account insted of the lates, this could hurt you more than help you.

Remember.....the older the less they hurt.