CMI ruining two scores

[Anonymous]

CMI has shown up on my CR from a cable account I had back in 2006. It was mine, was not paid and now it's ruining my  scores EQ (563) and EX (Plus score 584). my TU score is 671. CMI is reporting it as of 12-1-2009. This is the only BADDIE left for me to fix in order to get to  700. My questions are:

Will my score raise if I pay it  off in full? 

Should I pay it in full or can my score still raise if I leave it alone?

will my account be updated and lower my score if I pay it?

Should I pay to CMI or Adelphia?

 I'm trying to get Invisalign  soon and I'm not sure if I can with my scores. I don't mind paying it if it will help. If not should I just send a DV letter and hope they can't validate? I'm just not sure what to do...any help?...anybody?

[Anonymous]

DV to ensure they do own the account, it's been a few years.Send CMRRR.

PFD only

The reasoning for PFD only is paying it and leaving it on the report will not help. It will in fact lower your scores for a brief period of time for a recent updated status/activity.

You will still be denied for credit on basis of collection/derogatory information on your credit report. (Depending on lenders criteria)

Look around the boards for CMI info, PFD letters, and check out BBB for more contact info to direct a PFD letter to someone higher. Ignoring it won't help. It will stay on until at least the year 2013, depending on the month of first deliquency, and won't stop reporting till then. On top of that, they can sell the account to another CA, who will create a new entry, further ding your score, before its reporting time is up. After the 7.5 years, they will stop reporting but continue sending letters for money.

Hope this helps. Post more info if you can, and we'd all be happy to help you!

[Anonymous]

Thank you that does help.  I'm a newbie so bare with me. can I find example DV/PFD  letters on here? where can I find them? these letters should be sent to CMI correct?

[Anonymous]

Send to whoever is reporting on your credit reports.

Search the boards for DV letters and PFD letters.

DV's are short sweet one liners stating your rights and basically demanding they prove ownership. Otherwise contact the OC.

[RobertEG]

While I can see the incentive to just make a PFD, I wouild not say to just make a PFD.  That may not work, and may  just escalate  your woes.

Here is the battlefield as I see it.

Yoiu have account delinquencies with the OC, CMI, which have been posted to your CR  You dont say what they are, but I assume they involve one or more prior monthl;y account delinquencies with them while the account was open, and then maybe an additional CO of the debt before sending it to collection.

Then a CA posted. 

Any offers you make for payment of the debt require that you first know who now owns the debt.  Is it still owned by the OC. with the CA being only their debt collector, or was ownership of the debt sold to the CA?  You can only pay the legal owner of the debt.  If the OC sold the debt. they cannot accept payment. 
Call the OC and first confirm ownersip.

OK, having sorted all of that out, you still have a debt to pay.

Then you think you know who to make a PFD offer to.  PFD only, in my opinion,is not the best advice.  PFD has zero mandatory compliance/

A  PFD offer is just a conditional offer to pay.  It binds no one to anything.  They can throw it in the trashcan,with no response.

To say that a PFD offer is your only response totally disregards the credior right  to simplly disregard it as a contract offer that they dont wish to accept, and thus, maybe,hit you right back with legal action.

If you just PIF,debt is gone, along with the threat of legal action .  If you offer a PFD. you are taking the gamble of additionally asking for deletion from your CR. but also not actually paying the debt,and  thus letting the threat of legal action remain. It is not alwauys the only thng to consider.

[Anonymous]

The OC was Adelphia cable I believe. It was deliquent while the acct. was open, I shut it off when I fell on hard times and  had to move and didn't pay it off.  CMI, the CA, sent me a letter stating that they have the acct. now. I don't know if they actually own it. I'll have to find out.  If I call the OC do I need to still send a DV letter?

It seems from your response the best thing to do is PIF to the actual owner to avoid any legal action. yet that will make my score drop. which I don't want.  But what I do want is piece of mind knowing that it's paid and to have it deleted. So should I PIF and then send a GW or PFD for deletion? thanks so much for your help