Rebounding after Wife's Brain cancer diagnosis

[Anonymous]

You know what sucks is being diagnosed with such a fatal and incurable disease...

She was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astracytoma in December of 2016.

We lost over $80k in annual income as she cannot work anymore, which caused a downhill spiral (cancer kills your finances and lives)

We had over $200,000 in medical bills, luckily insurance covered 80%, but still leaves $40,000 in out of pocket expenses

In 2017, our credit scores hit mid 400s, and I was seriously thinking of declaring bankruptcy.

So doctors, MRIs, etc need to be paid first everyone else second, fair?  Nope.

Our mortgage became 60-90 days late cars the same thing, well everything did

So in order to pay everyone back we had to empty our nest eggs in order to be caught up.

Well now, depending on the scoring, FICO8 is now mid 600s, but am still getting dinged with the following:

Freedom Mortgage: several 30, 60, 90 day lates

4 Credit cards with Chase, that I settled for 10% now are charge offs with zero balance

But there are other smaller ones, like 30 day lates on some autos, etc.

I had a lease with GMfinancial from 2015(before cancer) and had to turn it in last February.

All I wanted to do was buy out the vehicle and continue on.  Well, I couldn't get it bought because of the payment history.

So I bought a car to hold me over, but scores are not there and the payment histories are not what they "need" to be.

Now, I need a truck and I went to trade it in, I am $7,000 upside down! 

Because of my credit history, and the amount being upside down, is almost impossible to get financed now matter how much you put your effort in.  Dealer recommends a new vehicle because they can bury my car in the deal and somehow I would come out with positive equity.

Note: this is still with $4,000 down.  Well, I was approced @ 13.59% for $860/mo.  That is a hard pass, I want it where it is now or lower.  In order to do that my scores and payment history needs to be corrected.  

After that, inquiries galore! geez

The good news is that one of the loans I have with Air Force Federal Credit Union was able to remove 3 late payments, that were due to their accounting errors came off.  Not sure if that is a victory or correction.

I have sent Freedom Mortgage a goodwill letter, but haven't heard back, and its been a few weeks, may need to blast them.  

Chase charge offs, not sure what kind of tactic I can get them just to remove the accounts

Any help or fresh ideas I am always interested in.  

Sucks Cancer will crush you spiritually, financially, and physically.

[Anonymous]

Hi and welcome to the forums! I'm so sorry to hear about DW's diagnosis and wish the both of you a speedy recovery, physically, emotionally and financially. You will find some great support/advice from knowledgeable members here to try to help you. 

[blindambition]

OP, your spirit and strength will pull you through. I'm very sorry for your wife. My best wishes. I understand a catastrophic medical event.

Your best shot is GW with the lates. Explain the story. One of the best reasons for GW. As many addresses as you can find. Contact Chase executive offices directly. It can be done.

Hopefully some lates can be removed.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all.

She is doing quite well, the tumor shrunk over 50%, it was inoperable and only a biopsy could of been performed as it would of taken out her motor skills.  Same type that killed Neil Pert, Biden's kid, and many others.  5 year survival rate has gone up recently from 10% to in the 30s

I tried a goodwill recon with Penfed to get a decent rate on the auto loan and wrote them the sob story, hoping they come through. 

Good news, ALL credit cards are paid off, just car notes and mortgage left

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks all.

She is doing quite well, the tumor shrunk over 50%, it was inoperable and only a biopsy could of been performed as it would of taken out her motor skills.  Same type that killed Neil Pert, Biden's kid, and many others.  5 year survival rate has gone up recently from 10% to in the 30s

I tried a goodwill recon with Penfed to get a decent rate on the auto loan and wrote them the sob story, hoping they come through. 

Good news, ALL credit cards are paid off, just car notes and mortgage left

---

That's excellent news! I'm so glad to hear you're wife is doing well. Stay strong!

[Anonymous]

So Goodwill letters are my only option at this time?

I have disputed over and over again the chase ones on validation, but they keep coming back as "verified"

When I question that, they say it is frivolous,  which could be a tactic on their end.  

If I can get the Chase charge offs removed, I would be golden. Mortgage would be a bit messier, but it is now current.

[blindambition]

Chase will not remove the charge offs. They are reporting correctly at 0. Those will be removed 7 years from DOFD. There's no legitimate reason to dispute.

Best bet is contacting Chase EO. Most likely not removing.

The others continue GW. That's your best recourse after you've paid everything.

[donkort]

You've done so much work, despite all that's happened to you.

I bet your wife has a great atttude, conducive to healing.

[Anonymous]

Yes thank you.  Banks don't care lol

[FireMedic1]

Sorry about the hardball life threw at you guys. Cancer runs in my family. Its almost like when is it my turn. And being a firefighter for 36 yrs. Cancer is the number 1 killer of us. One thing that will help is quit disputing. Each time its verified. Thats a new update and hit. If its possible. Go by medical records and ask for a copy of the history and physical report that shows all that happened and it will show the diagnosis. Send this in with your GW's. Charge offs are hard to get deleted. Anything with Chase is really tough. Go by  a branch and lay it on their desk and see if the CSR can do any calls. Getting the lates deleted will help. Keep crackin at them. Thoughts are with you guys.