Fair Collection (FCO) almost defeated me, reached out to OC and success!!!

[REALISTICLYSPEAKING2014]

4 years of pain staking, time consuming credit repair and rebuilding was so worth it!!!

I am now on my way up, removing many smaller accounts ( mostly medical collections) and I ended up making another stupid choice with breaking my lease (2 years ago) 2 months early at my apartment.  I have been diligently reaching out to FCO with no response (they claim the couldnt locate me (lie) I spoke to them 3 times on the telephone as well as emailing and sending ceritifed letters trying to get proof of the debt and a breakdown of said charges. (claiming over 4,000.00? - I knew it was an error somewhere)

I decided after reading on the forums, to contact via email, the president of the original leasing company (very large corporation) and I received a phone call this morning from his office. We went over the charges, I disputed (luckily they had photos of my apt in move out condition) and she was very nice and very helpful! She reduced it to under the amount I knew I originally had owed and apologized since in my email to Mr President I also included all of my proof of trying to contact them and FCO to pay this charge to no avail!!

It gets better....I had applied 2 days ago for  a NFCU Platinum card so I could just pay it since I am hoping to apply for a mortgage in the next year and KNOW they will make me pay it before closing anyway! NFCU approved me for a whopping $500.00! (I had just been approved for a 30,000 auto loan in march), so a little disppointed, but grateful and determined! I emailed NFCU, explaining my story and asked for reconsideration of the amount and THEY APPROVED ME FOR an additional CLI of $3,000.00! So today is an amazing day for me...I can pay off FCO and get that resolved, building positive credit at the same time! Now with a firm budget in place, a brand new sports car and a great career, I'm finally free of all negative, collections, and lates (most are over 2+ years ago). So excited!  2014 will be the most memorable year of my life!

Anyone can do this! It takes time, dilligence and alot of hours reading the forums! I am so thankful to everyone who posts here and all the people who give solid advice and encouragement! This is truly a community that I am proud to be involved with!! THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

[Shogun]

[REALISTICLYSPEAKING2014]

Thats hilarious! But thats exactly how I feel right now!! You shouldve seen me when I found out I had been approved for the new car loan (with a 2.4% APR)!

I was jumping all around like I had just won the lottery! Itt felt SOOO good trading in my KIA soul and driving away in a brand new black mustang convertible!!! oh ya and it was on my 45th birthday!!!

[Shogun]

Happy Birthday!!!  and what a nice present you bought yourself!

[GooseGirl]

Congratulations! It seems like Friday the 13th was lucky for lots of people. Thanks for sharing your happy news. It's always nice to celebrate these wins.

[psualum04]

I am also struggling with FCO. Are you able to message me the number you called to speak to someone in the President's office?

Thanks

Seember

[2NE1]

I remember FCO being on my reports as well... debt belong to my dear mother. However since I was over the age of 18 and my name/ssn was on the apt lease they put the $ she owe to my CR... I fought and fought to get it off but they were tough to deal it. I just had to let it fall off (March 2013). Thank goodnes it's now off my reports for good!

[REALISTICLYSPEAKING2014]

Seember,

FCO was the CA that I paid -

I had contacted the presdient of the original creditor (my leasing company)  to get the amount that was reporting reduced to the proper amount. If you are having issues with the amount that is reporting, FCO will not be able or willing to help with that. Im not sure what type of issue you are having?

I anticipate this collection to remain on my CR for at least another 5+ years, altho as we read the other posts, in time it will lessen the overall impact. I will start GWing this item like crazy and hope my letter at some point will hit the right desk, but Im not optimistic since learning about them on myfico forums.

I just feel so good knowing I have it paid in full!

Good luck - I will PM you the complaince officers email and contact info that I dealt with at FCO...Hopefully she may be able to help resolve your issue. Let us know how it turns out.

[REALISTICLYSPEAKING2014]

If there was one bit of advice I would share with the younger generation, it would be to make sure you keep your credit in check and make smarter choices regarding it.

Don't let family /friends try to persuade you into helping them, because chances are if they need YOUR help, they have already made some bad choices themselves.

Credit is pretty easy to get and if you are responsible with it, you can have anything you want (as well as an education/career to help back you financially). On the other hand it is very complicated and time consuming trying to fix it once you have abused it

I know I sould like a mother, but if my words help one person avoid financial heartache, it is worth it

Happy to hear it finally came off your reports!

[REALISTICLYSPEAKING2014]

Figured I would provide an update! As of today, FCO has been deleted off all 3 CRA's! Since I had paid it in full after getting the amount corrected , I waited for the updated amount to show/update and then paid in full! I wasnt optimistic at all about getting a PDF with FCO, however I decided to go back to the OC who was so kind and helpful getting this resioved after 2 years! I sent her an email on monday and expalined to her what this account was going to do and how it was going to affect me for ANOTHER 7 years (I paid it off which likely caused a new activity alert). I was honest and pretty much begged for her help. I really spilled my guts and was hopeful she would again be sympathetic to my situation....

I got the email today from FCO  -

"Be advised the above account was paid in full to our client on 06/25/2014. Therefore, the account balance is zero, and
this account has been closed in our office. Our office has requested that this item be removed from your credit by
sending an electronic Universal Data Form to the credit bureaus."

What a feeling of relief!!! I dont even have words to explain how I feel and what this person did for me today!

Now gardening time.....