Hi FICO Family 
I've been battling my credit for some time now. In my late teens/early 20s I was a real idiot...I knew I was wrong but just didn't care, I suppose.
Anyhow, I have been paying for those mistakes paycheck-to-paycheck for 10+ years now. I am finally in a situation (financially speaking) where I can really tackle my debts and get them taken care of once and for all.
I'm on a civilian deployment to the Middle East, living & eating on base - so I'm squirreling away my paychecks while hubby has moved in with some friends and pays them a bit of rent each month. Overall we are saving a LOT of money this way and the opportunity has been a true Godsend.
His credit scores are a good bit better than mine, the only part that keeps his from being super high is high utilization (but I'm working on that, will be 25-30% by end of this month!), none of the accts are very old, and not very many accounts.
The credit scores I'm REALLY worried about are mine. I have a few lates, as well as 1 collection account from a doctor visit in 2008.
I also have a debt from a bank acct that was SERIOUSLY overdrafted (a coworker who was a former "friend" stole my bank card and paid all her bills with it, although I didn't have enough money to cover it; I did all I could, including disputing it and all that -- but since she knew my billing zip and other verifying info, they figured I was just lying - and never got anywhere with the local PD either). However the bank debt is not being reported on my credit -- this debt occurred in early to mid 2008, and periodically they do send letters threatening legal action to my home address in the States. I'm just worried they might come back to haunt me via credit report or lawsuit or garnishment, etc.
First things first -- the medical collection is reported as such on my credit report:
In October 2008, I had insurance through my employer (a casino), and visited a Dr. Gaddy (recommended by many coworkers, also on same insurance plan).
When I called Dr. Gaddy's office to schedule the appointment, I inquired whether they accepted Lockard & Williams insurance, and gave them my plan number. The receptionist (or billing clerk?) on the phone stated that yes, they do take that insurance and are in that network; she further explained that there would be no copay as it was an annual "Well Woman" exam.
On the day of my appointment, I had the exam done, and when I left, I absentmindedly stopped at the billing window and pulled out my checkbook. The billing clerk smiled at me and said "Oh, no ma'am -- remember? This is your annual well woman exam, there's not evena copay for this! Only if you have to make an appointment for something other than a regular checkup!" I was so happy about that, because hey - that was $35 I could keep in my pocket and EAT with!
Well, fast forward to March 2009: I got a bill in the mail for $500 for this visit! I called Dr. Gaddy's office, and the billing clerk informed me that they had been dropped from the Lockard & Williams network and so the insurance couldn't/wouldn't pay for my visit. This is why they were billing me directly. I stated that I didn't believe this was ethical or fair, as I had specifically asked if they took my insurance when I scheduled AND the billing clerk had even told me the day OF the visit, that I didn't even owe a copay. They gave me a number to call for their "accounting lady" -- this was a private cell number as apparently they used a work-from-home billing service.
I called that number, left voicemails, she called me a few times while I was at work, but never left any voicemails, it was a runaround.
I finally got in touch with her and explained the situation and she told me "too bad, you have to pay" and hung up on me!
I started seeing it on my credit report and I disputed it over and over again. In 2011 I no longer saw it on my credit report so I thought maybe a dispute had been successful.
Well, now as of March 30, 2014, it is now being reported on my Equifax and Transunion reports 
Equifax shows the creditor as "432YC00000" with a Date Assigned of 15 June 2012, status "unpaid", description "Collection Account; Medical".
Transunion shows the creditor as "So Ms Cllctn" with a Date Assigned of 02 October 2008, status "collection account", description "Placed for collection".
First of all --- is there ANYthing I can do to get this off my credit report without paying it, as I truly believe it was unethical of them to try to charge me for this.
Secondly -- If I can't get out of paying it, what are my best ways to pay & get it off my credit report? I've heard of pay-for-delete but also am curious about the Statute of Limitations (at the time of the Dr. visit I lived in Mississippi, and both the doctor's office and collection agency are in MS -- where there is a 3-yr SOL for "Open Accounts". Currently, my home duty station is Texas where it is a 4-year SOL for Open Accounts).
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Now, on to the bank debt...
I had an account with Hancock Bank from 2005 - 2008 but a coworker who was a former friend, knew all my personal info (we were from the same hometown, knew all each other's info, grew up together etc. until a falling out over a promotion I got, that she was passed over), and she took my bank card from my pocketbook one day when I stepped away from my desk - she then proceeded to call her phone company, power company, etc while I was away for a few meetings, bathroom break, etc. and pay all her bills over the phone with my card! Since the calls all happened back to back, the card was never declined and it took me more than $500 negative in that bank account. At first, when my card was declined at the grocery store the next day, I was absolutely flabbergasted as to why -- but then I checked my account and nearly had a cardiac arrest at the activity I saw there. Legal/criminal details aside - because it's like beating a really old dead zombie horse at this point -- I had no way to recoup those funds so my only option was to switch banks. Eventually, Hancock Bank started sending me collection letters. It seems they are all handled in-house though, rather than by a collection agency. I can't figure out what the SOL for this kind of debt would be, unless it would be considered an Open Account?
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I'm sorry for writing a freakin novel, but if anybody can advise me on what my best options are, and what my rights are, as far as repairing my credit/staying out of court/preventing garnishment for both of these issues....I would be absolutely so grateful.
Please help me, guys! I will be more than happy to pay it forward and help others with all that I learn throughout this process
Thanks in advance!!!
--- Natalie
Bump! I really need some advice, folks...Even if you can only weigh in on part of the issue - anything is much appreciated!
I'm getting ready to leave for work, so mind you this will be a quick quip. First off, it wouldn't be an open account, or at least I'm not thinking it would be. The medical would be a written, or some states have a specific SOL for medical. The one from the bank would be a written, because it's not a credit situation.
Most often the SOL goes by the state you preside in, I believe TX has a state statute that once living there for a year, you fall under their SOL. Sorry I don't have time to look that up and verify right now. So going by this, you should be past the SOL because TX is 4 years across the board. Keep in mind however, there is some stipulation that SOLs can stop and restart, if say you are out of the country, which you say you are currently. How long have you been overseas?
I'll try to look more into this later in the morning, sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush.
July 2013 score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!
June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
Hi Shogun!
First - THANK YOU for helping me at all, I know we are all busy people 
As for being out of the country, I have been living on the military base here in the Middle East since July 2013, and will return in July 2014 to TX. My home duty station is still in TX, as are all my banking/billing etc, and my husband is still living there. As I am on a military base, I'm told this is considered "US soil" so while we are technically "overseas" geographically, we are still considered in the USA if that makes sense, for tax purposes and whatnot. So I'm not sure if that matters in regards to collections and debts.
Of course it would be up to the judge should the issue of the SOL come up, but I do believe thesr have passed the SOL. The issue now is that it is still in the CRTP for another year or so. Do you plan on a purchase any time soon? These baddies may be a hindrance of that. I'd try a PFD for the medical bill, and I'd try it at a discount. Maybe start offering 20% or so and go for there.
as for the bank! I'd try a PFD,and if a no go on that, I'd pay/settle and then start the GW plan. The good news is that they are old and getting older.
July 2013 score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!
June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
I would offer to pay 20% and see if they take a nibble or counter offer.
July 2013 score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!
June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
Alright, I'll use the PFD example in the other forum and see what happens... Much appreciated!