Public Record - PFD possibilities? Removal? HELP!

[pritchardhallhokie]

I've been making great progress with cleaning up my credit.  By far the biggest baddie on my report now is a public record for unpaid state taxes in GA in 2004.  I kept thinking that they would just drop off in 2011 but as I read recently, they stay on for 7 years after the date of payment.

The original balance was about 800 dollars and I partially paid in 2008 but stopped with my plan.  I can now pay the remainder off (roughly $450) and I fully intend on doing so.  My question is, how do I use the leverage of the remaining balance to TRY to get a PFD from the state of GA?  Does anyone have any experience with this and does anyone know if this is even possible?

Will paying this in full report any score change from having it not paid?  This will release the lien I have (tax lien) but it will still say public record.  Can I get this removed somehow?

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

My public record was from my city taxes for $323.00. My pay check was garnished and it the billed was paid in full 5 years ago. I tried to get it removed but to no avail. According to Trans Union it is scheduled to last till 12/2011.

[pritchardhallhokie]

  Any idea how much of a pull down this is giving you?  Has it been something that creditors automatically declined you for even though it was paid?  i.e. did a car lender look at "PUBLIC RECORD!!!" and go... Sorry bud, no financing for you?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

a) car dealers notoriously can get most people financed.  Doubt that's an automatic "no"

b) you should always go car shopping with financing in place.

c) don't let them negotiate price of payment instead of price of the car and your trade in.  Better, don't bring a trade in.  Sell privately.

[BrandonSS]

nevermind, edit

[Anonymous]

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@pritchardhallhokie wrote:

I've been making great progress with cleaning up my credit.  By far the biggest baddie on my report now is a public record for unpaid state taxes in GA in 2004.  I kept thinking that they would just drop off in 2011 but as I read recently, they stay on for 7 years after the date of payment.

The original balance was about 800 dollars and I partially paid in 2008 but stopped with my plan.  I can now pay the remainder off (roughly $450) and I fully intend on doing so.  My question is, how do I use the leverage of the remaining balance to TRY to get a PFD from the state of GA?  Does anyone have any experience with this and does anyone know if this is even possible?

Will paying this in full report any score change from having it not paid?  This will release the lien I have (tax lien) but it will still say public record.  Can I get this removed somehow?

THANK YOU!!!!!!

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Unfortunately paying in and of itself will not improve your credit score.  It may, however, look better if a creditor conducts a manual review of your credit file. 

Each state tax authority handles things differently, but in general they very seldom accept PFDs.  I mean, why should they?  Sooner or later they will get their money anyhow -- with interest -- so there is no incentive for them to go to the trouble / extra work of having anything deleted from your credit report.

You can try with your state's taxation department and you may get lucky, but I would be prepared to just pay anyhow if they refuse.  A tax lien is a major derogatory and most lenders decline credit as a matter of policy over any public record.