I have a collection that is not showing on my reports - How to proceed?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

   I have been a lurker for a while. Thanks to everybody who offers helpful information.

OK. Here is the situation.

I have a collection from 2017. (It is a single amount consolidated from 5 medical bills related to one medical event.)

The last letter was from early 2019.

It is approx $1700.

It is NOT showing on my big 3 credit reports.

My files are clean with no derogatory items on them.I would like to keep them that way.

I absolutely want to pay it this week, but I do not want it to show up as a consequence of paying it.

What should I do to so that does not show up?

It is with PMAC, now Harris and Harris.

THanks for any advice.

[simplegirl]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello,

   I have been a lurker for a while. Thanks to everybody who offers helpful information.

OK. Here is the situation.

I have a collection from 2017. (It is a single amount consolidated from 5 medical bills related to one medical event.)

The last letter was from early 2019.

It is approx $1700.

It is NOT showing on my big 3 credit reports.

My files are clean with no derogatory items on them.I would like to keep them that way.

I absolutely want to pay it this week, but I do not want it to show up as a consequence of paying it.

What should I do to so that does not show up?

It is with PMAC, now Harris and Harris.

THanks for any advice.

---

What you would want to do is offer to pay for them not reporting to the credit bureaus. So basically you say I would like to pay this off in exchange for you not reporting to the credit bureaus and if you could get it in writing or in an email you should be good to go. If they accept the offer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply,

This might sound silly but as a first timer I do not know how to do that.

Do I just phone up the number for making payments?

Do I do it by registered mail?

    If so, how does that work? Do I offer full or partial payment in exchange for not reporting? Is there a template letter?

Is this different from a PFD?

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I found a template and tweaked it. Is this correct?

Is the tone/message correct? (Some formatting from Microsoft word was lost in pasting the text here.)

Question: Should I offer less than the $1700 owed, or offer the total amount?

************************************************************************

<Your Name>
<Your Address>
<Your City, State, Zip Code>

<Collection Agency’s Name>
<Collection Agency’s Address>
<Collection Agency’s City, State, Zip Code>
<Date>

Re: Invoice Number <XXXXXXXXXXX>

Dear PMAB,
I am writing this in response to the attached correspondence related to invoice Number <XXXXXXXXXXX>

I accept no responsibility for ownership of this debt; however, I am willing to compromise for our mutual benefit. I can offer a settlement amount in exchange for your written agreement to the following terms:

1. You agree to accept this payment as satisfying the debt in full (once you receive the agreed upon amount).
2. You agree to not list this debt as a “paid collection” or “settled account.”
3. You agree not to report any references to this account to the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian).
4. You agree to completely remove any and all existing references to this account from the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) that you have reported to and validated this account.

I am willing to pay an amount of $XXXX as settlement for this debt in exchange for your agreement to the above terms within fifteen calendar days of receipt of payment. Understand that this is not a promise to pay. This is a restricted settlement offer and you must agree to the terms above in order for payment to be made.

Should you accept, please send a signed agreement with the aforementioned terms from an authorized representative on your company letterhead. Once I receive this, I will pay $XXXX via money order.

If I do not receive your response to this offer within fifteen calendar days, I will rescind this offer and follow up with a method of verification letter.

I look forward to resolving this matter quickly.

Sincerely,

<Your Name>
<Your Address>
<Your City, State, Zip Code>

************************************************************************

[Anonymous]

I made a different draft from a template found here on the forum.

Is this better?

Because it is not currently on the reports, It seems odd to use the language of DELETION. I want to PREVENT it from showing up, now or in furure.

Any input is appreciated. It is crazy how much anxiety this is causing me.

*********************************************************************************

<Your Name>

<Your Address>

<Your City, State, Zip Code>

<Collection Agency’s Name>

<Collection Agency’s Address>

<Collection Agency’s City, State, Zip Code>

<Date>

Re: Invoice Number <XXXXXXXXXXX>  (copy attached)

Amount: $xxxx.xx

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to inform you that the validity of this debt is in question. However, in the spirit of compromise for our mutual benefit, I am willing to pay this account IN FULL / SETTLEMENT AMOUNT if you agree to the following:

1. You accept this payment as satisfying the debt in full (once you receive the agreed upon amount).
2. You agree to not list this debt as a “paid collection” or “settled account.”
3. You agree not to report any references to this account to the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian).
4. You agree to completely remove any and all existing references to this account from the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) that you have reported to and validated this account.

The purpose of this settlement is merely to have this medical item omitted from my credit files. It is not to be construed as an acknowledgment of liability for this debt in any form.

If you agree to the terms and accept this agreement, certified funds for the settlement amount of <AMOUNT ($xx.xx)> will be sent to <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME> in exchange for the points 1-4 outlined above

As certified funds (money order/cashiers check) will be used for payment.

<COLLECTION AGENCY NAME>agrees to take action on points 1-4 above WITHIN TEN CALENDAR (10) DAYS following receipt of payment as specified above and will not discuss the terms of this settlement with anyone, excluding your client on this account. If contacted by any third party, including credit-reporting agencies, <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME> will not acknowledge that any settlement offer was made, accepted or executed and will, in fact, deny knowledge of any such account.

If you agree to the above terms, please prepare a letter on your company letterhead explicitly agreeing to the same terms as the above settlement offer and have it signed by an authorized representative of <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME>. It will be implied that this letter shall constitute a legally binding contract, enforceable under the laws of my state.

Your response must be postmarked no later than 15 days from your receipt of this settlement offer or this offer will be withdrawn and I will request full validation of this alleged debt, as provided for by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Please address all correspondence regarding this account to:

<Your Name>

<Your Address>

<Your City, State, Zip Code>

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I made a different draft from a template found here on the forum.

Is this better?

Because it is not currently on the reports, It seems odd to use the language of DELETION. I want to PREVENT it from showing up, now or in furure.

Any input is appreciated. It is crazy how much anxiety this is causing me.

*********************************************************************************

<Your Name>

<Your Address>

<Your City, State, Zip Code>

<Collection Agency’s Name>

<Collection Agency’s Address>

<Collection Agency’s City, State, Zip Code>

<Date>

Re: Invoice Number <XXXXXXXXXXX>  (copy attached)

Amount: $xxxx.xx

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to inform you that the validity of this debt is in question. However, in the spirit of compromise for our mutual benefit, I am willing to pay this account IN FULL / SETTLEMENT AMOUNT if you agree to the following:

1. You accept this payment as satisfying the debt in full (once you receive the agreed upon amount).
2. You agree to not list this debt as a “paid collection” or “settled account.”
3. You agree not to report any references to this account to the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian).
4. You agree to completely remove any and all existing references to this account from the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) that you have reported to and validated this account.

The purpose of this settlement is merely to have this medical item omitted from my credit files. It is not to be construed as an acknowledgment of liability for this debt in any form.

If you agree to the terms and accept this agreement, certified funds for the settlement amount of <AMOUNT ($xx.xx)> will be sent to <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME> in exchange for the points 1-4 outlined above

As certified funds (money order/cashiers check) will be used for payment.

<COLLECTION AGENCY NAME>agrees to take action on points 1-4 above WITHIN TEN CALENDAR (10) DAYS following receipt of payment as specified above and will not discuss the terms of this settlement with anyone, excluding your client on this account. If contacted by any third party, including credit-reporting agencies, <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME> will not acknowledge that any settlement offer was made, accepted or executed and will, in fact, deny knowledge of any such account.

If you agree to the above terms, please prepare a letter on your company letterhead explicitly agreeing to the same terms as the above settlement offer and have it signed by an authorized representative of <COLLECTION AGENCY NAME>. It will be implied that this letter shall constitute a legally binding contract, enforceable under the laws of my state.

Your response must be postmarked no later than 15 days from your receipt of this settlement offer or this offer will be withdrawn and I will request full validation of this alleged debt, as provided for by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Please address all correspondence regarding this account to:

<Your Name>

<Your Address>

<Your City, State, Zip Code>

---

@Anonymous To my eyes it seems fine. I would wait for an expert's feedback. 

If the creditor has an email address, maybe also send this letter to them in an email. When I was working on getting my collections deleted, I had the most success calling in and requesting a confirmation via email on company letterhead.

For whatever reason (probably covid), a lot of my letters went unanswered.

[simplegirl]

A lot of it is repeated through the letter. This is a letter that I've used for Pay for deletes and i changed it to fit your needs if you want to use it. I was successful when I used it.

Account #:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount: $

To Whom It May Concern:
 
I am willing to pay this account $Amount if you agree to not report this account on any credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). The purpose of this settlement is merely prevent this from being added to my credit files. It is not to be construed as an acknowledgment of liability for this debt in any form. 

Certified funds for the full amount of $Amount will be mailed to Company Name, if you agree to the terms. In exchange for doing so, Company Name will not report any information regarding this account on my credit files, and this debt shall be satisfied. 

Company Name agrees to to not report any information regarding this account to the credit reporting agencies within one week following receipt of payment as specified above and will not discuss the terms of this settlement with anyone. If contacted by any third party, including credit-reporting agencies, Company Name will not acknowledge that any settlement offer was made, accepted or executed and will, in fact, deny knowledge of any such account. 

If you agree to the above terms, please prepare a letter on your company letterhead agreeing to the same terms as the above settlement offer and have it signed by an authorized representative of Company Name. 


Please address all correspondence regarding this account to: 

Your Name
Your Address
City, State Zip Code Country
  
Thanks in advance,
Your Name

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help.

This is intimidating.

In any case, I did send off the letter on Friday to the collection agency.

Fingers crossed.

[simplegirl]

@Anonymous dont be scared you will be fine trust me. I've used it personally and either they reply with a counter offer, accept your offer, or ignore it but either way you tried and can try again at no cost to yourself. Good Luck!