Help with removing negative Information on credit reports

[Anonymous]

I'm just starting to really seriously try to improve my credit scores. They're not horrible, but could certainly use some work.

Between 7/03/12 and 7/07/12 , my scores (per lender pulls for a new car) were EQ 648, EX 695, TU 671.

I have some negative information on my reports:

Judgement (medical) - issued and paid in full 05/2008 - As a NYS resident, this should be removed by 05/2013. Considering asking for the judgement to be vacated, but might just wait it out.

$80 collection (medical) - DoFD 6/2007, paid in full 11/2007. Sent a GW letter to CA asking for removal. But technically, as a NYS resident, shouldn't this have come off already? Or should it come off at 5 years plus 180 days of DoFD (so 12/2012)? Or possibly at 5 years since last activity (11/2012)? If CA doesn't remove it, should I try to dispute with CRA based on NYS 5 year law?

$25 unpaid collection (medical) 12/2008 - Sent PFD to CA, they responded with a printout of my account, showing the balance (huh?). Called the CA, they said they would only update the status to paid/satisfied if I paid, they would not delete. Tried to be super nice and "convince" them, but they refused. Called the OC and asked them if they would pull the account back from the CA, and I would pay them directly. OC had to ask her supervisor, who said no, I had to deal with the CA only. Supervisor also contacted the CA, who told OC they would only update the status to paid/satisfied if I paid. Tried pretty much every angle, with no success. I also actually dispute the validity of the $25. It was a "no-show" fee, but I called and cancelled the appointment 24 hours in advance, per their requirement. I already went over that with the OC, who basically said "your word against ours, we're not removing it." The name of the OC, a medical office, appears right on my credit report. Is this a potential candidate for a HIPAA removal? Who do I contact, the CRA or OC? I'm really irritated now, and am making it my mission to get rid of this thing.

Student loan - 30 day late 09/2009, paid in full, zero balance - sent GW letter, waiting on response

Auto loan - 30 day late 06/2009, about to be paid in full - called and asked about a GW deletion, CSR told me that they used to remove 30 day lates, but since the amendment of the FCRA in 2010, they are not allowed to remove 30 day lates. I said that wasn't my understanding of the FCRA, but I could tell she wasn't going to budge, so I just nicely said "Okay, thanks anyway" and ended the call. Should I send a letter or call again?

WFNNB store card - 30 day late 12/2010, 90 day late 06/2011, paid in full, zero balance - sent GW letter, waiting on response.

Lane Bryant store card - 30 day late 12/2007 - same account as above, was sold/transferred to WFNNB. The date opened on my reports is the same as the account above. This account reports payment history from 10/2007-01/2010. The account above also reports payment history from 10/2007-present, but doesn't show the 30 day late in 12/2007. Should I try to dispute this account to get it removed? Is it even worth it, since it's already almost 5 years old? 

Any advice is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Awesome job so far OP! It looks like you are headed in the right direction.

On the $25 unpaid medical collection who is the CA? You may want to go higher up the foodchain to get a PFD. Yes, you can use the Hipaa process but the debt is so low that you may want to consider just paying and sending a GW letter until the account is gone from your CR. The HIPAA process involves sending certified Pre-Hipaa letters to all three CRA's and waiting 30 days for their response.

Ditto for the auto loan. Who is the lender? Go further up the foodchain. Also find e-mail address for the executives, etc. Also send a GW letter to the address on your CR.

I am not familiar with NYS law or Judgements. 

Send a GW to Lane Bryant to request they remove the 30 day late.

Keep going until you get what you want. It is going to take time and patience.  Good Luck!

[jamie123]

You are doing a GREAT job so far!

That judgment you have on your report is killing your scores! The lates are hurting a bit but after lates become 2 years old they tend to fade away. The judgment will hurt BAD until it is gone. You should concentrate your efforts to have the judgment removed first. Continue to also work on the lates, if you get them removed they will increase your score a bit.

Repairing credit is really a two-way street. Remove the baddies and add good credit.

What types of credit cards do you have? What are their balances and credit lines?

[Anonymous]

The CA for the $25 collection is Outsource Receivables Management. I could just pay it, but I'm so annoyed by the whole thing right now that I don't feel like it! I did some more reading, and it appears that they are very clearly in violation of FCRA Section 605(a)(6), which prohibits the name of the OC from being reported. I'd like to send a letter to that effect,demanding they remove the account from my report, since that would be a lot easier than the whole HIPAA process it seems, but I'm not sure if they'd just change the name on my report and keep it on there. Alternatively, I was thinking about disputing it with the CRA, but am also wondering if they would just change the name and leave it on there too. I guess worst case, if all else fails, I can pay it and it'll drop off in another year and a half. I'd sure like to be able to get rid of it NOW though. I'd be perfectly happy to pay it, even though I dispute the validity, if I was guaranteed it would be removed. They have been entirely unwilling to agree to that so far though.

For the auto loan, the lender is TD Bank NA. I'll have to find a good contact to send a letter to. The CSR was quite adamant that they "aren't allowed" to remove 30 day lates anymore because of the 2010 FCRA amendment. Maybe I'll have better luck with someone else.

[Anonymous]

I was using the score predictor through PrivacyGuard.com, and it was showing me the greatest score gains (like 50+ points!) from having the 90 day late and the collections removed. The other lates and even the judgement weren't giving me an increase of more than maybe 10 points all together.

I'm thinking it might be because the judgement is almost 5 years old already, whereas the 90 day late is only a little over a year old? Or maybe those predictors just aren't accurate at all?

I actually posted about my credit cards in the credit card forum, here. I think at this point, I've added enough stuff for the time being! I'm definitely working on my utilization, my goal is (of course) to get it all down to zero and then strategically decide what balance(s) I let report. 

[jamie123]

Oops! Sorry I missed that 90 day on your original post!

I read your post on the CC forum so now I'm up to date.

You are doing AWESOME!

Yes, that 90 day late is killing your score. I missed it on the first go around and was wondering why your scores were so low. I saw the judgment and thought that was the reason because I didn't see the 90 day late.

These are my thoughts on severity of your scores being pulled down:

90 day late - Yes, I agree 50 to 100 points. This will NOT fade away. It will have a major negative impact on your scores until it is gone.

Judgment - I had a judgment drop off recently and gained 35 points. It was 7 1/2 years old at that point.

Collections - You need ALL 2 of them removed. Once you have 1 you take most of the hit to your scores so you need both gone.

Other lates - Yes they hurt but not something you need to have removed.

Other thoughts:

You have plenty of CC now! If I were you I would quit applying for new cards, once your new cards are 6 months old I would start calling for credit line increases and keep doing that every 6 months.

You really have done a wonderful job in repairing your credit. You are actually set-up now so if you did nothing else your scores would be awesome in a couple of years just with age.

I will be PMing you so check your mail.