CA using past as leverage

[orange-n-blue]

I've been trying to assist my finance with repairing his credit.  I reached out using a PFD (full amount = $900 approve) letter to the CA for medical bills on the CR.  The manager agreed to the PFD, but only if we paid 3 other accounts "on file" with the CA dating back to 2001 and 2003 totaling almost $3500.00.  I was totally floored one because we had no idea those items existed and secondly they don't show up on the CR.  I asked the assistant how could they verify the debt was his, she said because of the word document with the account number she sent me.  To me that doesn't sound like a valid DV.

I got so frustrated after I got off the phone the assistant that I called a credit repair company to try and assist.  I don't want to make matters worse than they already are, so that's why I reached out to a credit repair company for help.  CA are ruthless.  I feel like I'm getting the shake down from the CA.  Please help.

[notfancy]

Don't agree to any thing else. Send them a DV letter. Look for guiness's posts, and in her signature you'll find what you need.

[orange-n-blue]

Thank you notfancy.  I found some of guiness56's sample DVs.  What are your thoughts about me using the credit repair company.  I don't want to make matters worse for my finance.  Should I continue on my own or try the credit repair company.  Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use a credit repair company at all.  They are limited to what they can legally do and charge a fortune for it. 

As for your situation, the debts they are trying to get you to pay are more than likely beyone the CRTP and your state suing SOL.  They can legally try to collect forever and if that includes using that as leverage for a PFD they can.

However, if the other debts are old, consider offering a settlement for them.

[orange-n-blue]

Thank you guiness56.  The old debts are past the SOL and CRTP (CY 2001 and 2003).  Do you have a template letter on how to address this matter?  Here's a recap of the situation:

CA has a total of 7 reported medical debts.  We can pay in full 4 of the debts in exchange for PFD, but the CA wants us to pay ALL 7 debts in exchange for PFD. 

Many thanks for your help.....I'm so stressed right now over this matter.

[notfancy]

tell them that you only have the 900 and you will settle all the debts with that 900 as long as they agree to delete. Be firm, and don't let them step on you. Tell them that you know those debts are passed the SOL. Figure out how much each debt is, and tell them what percentage of each on those debts you're willing to pay. If that doesn't make a lot of sense, I haven't had my coffee yet. Post how much each debt is for on here, please.

[orange-n-blue]

I'll post the service date and total due.

Feb 2003 - $462.70
May 2001 - $2812.75
Dec 2003 - $137.00
**July 2001 - $32.10
**Oct 2008 - $298.58
**Oct 2008 - $37.69
**May 2011 - $29.14
**Oct 2008 - $216.51
**July 2013 - $228.87

Everything with a ** I agreed to pay in full for a PFD. The debts w/o the asterisk are not being reported. The CA is demanding full payment......we don't have the money to it all. The ** I feel are legit but the other I don't know. Thank you.

[orange-n-blue]

We have a phone confereence with CreditRepair.com at 9am cst. I had just started doing everything myself earlier this week ( sending out certified letters, settled one with Portfolio Recovery...). I'm trying to help him and I don't want make things worse. I was gonna try them for 2 months...3 TOPS to see what could be accomplished. I don't know :-(:-(

I wish I had know about myfico months ago.

[notfancy]

---

@orange-n-blue wrote:
I'll post the service date and total due.

Feb 2003 - $462.70
May 2001 - $2812.75
Dec 2003 - $137.00
**July 2001 - $32.10
**Oct 2008 - $298.58
**Oct 2008 - $37.69
**May 2011 - $29.14
**Oct 2008 - $216.51
**July 2013 - $228.87

Everything with a ** I agreed to pay in full for a PFD. The debts w/o the asterisk are not being reported. The CA is demanding full payment......we don't have the money to it all. The ** I feel are legit but the other I don't know. Thank you.

---

Okay so you're looking at a total of $4255.34. Of that, you feel that you owe: $842.89 which is about 20% of the "total" bill that they're trying to get out of you. Theoretically, they can take that amount for all of it, if it's out of the statute of limitations, because a lot of companies will accept 20-30% no problem on out of stat bills.

I don't know your financial situation but you can try to offer this (it might not work though on some of the more current debts)

Feb 2003 - $462.70-  $115.68
May 2001 - $2812.75- $562.55
Dec 2003 - $137.00- $34.25
**July 2001 - $32.10- $ 8.03
**Oct 2008 - $298.58- $74.65
**Oct 2008 - $37.69- $9.42
**May 2011 - $29.14- 7.29 (might have ti PIF as it is current)
**Oct 2008 - $216.51- $54.13
**July 2013 - $228.87- $52.22 (might have to PIF as it is current)

For a total of: $918.22. Make sure you have an agreement on each account, and send each check separately with each account number. Keep in mind, this might not work, but if it does, Collection Agents get a percentage of every dollar they collect as commission, and the older the account, the more likely they are to get a higher percentage of commission, so it's more "worth it" dollar wise for them to collect on old accounts, because it means they get higher bonuses on those accounts. Make sure they know you're aware of that. So even if you settle the ones you were willing to pif, being willing to settle the old accounts puts more money in their pockets, so they'd be making out much more if they work with you than if they do not.

I hope that makes sense.

[drkaje]

As others have posted, I would not use a credit repair company.

I'd also have DGF doing her own repair because the process (itself) teaches you a lot.