Removing Collections while Deployed

[ChevyGuy]

Hello all,

I am active duty Navy, currently deployed to the Persian Gulf. Upon return to homeport in a few months, I will be purchasing a new vehicle and turned to this site for some very valuable information. Throughout my research i've learned about reccomended CU's, which reports they pull, qualifying scores etc. I was interested in applying for a loan through DCU, and decided to pull my EQ score to see where I currently stand. This was my first time pulling my score/reports. To my surprise, my EQ report has a medical debt in collections as of 2009 which I have no knowledge of. I could not find any info for the creditor, so I pulled all 3 reports from ACR. The collection ONLY shows on my EQ, not my EX or TU.

I'll post all details below, but I am wondering what my first step should be to try to get this removed? PFD letter/phone call to the CA? Keep in mind, i'm deployed on a ship halfway around the world so mail is slow/unreliable. I'd prefer to deal in emails/phonecalls if advised. I'm really hoping to get this taken care of in the next few months and hopefully boost my score once deleted.

Current EQ myFICO score: 657

Date Reported: 09/2014

Date Assigned: 04/2009

Accounts Number: 115XXXX (does not list full number...)

Original Amount Owed: $104

DOFD: 10/2008

Balance Date: 09/2014

Balance Owed: $115

I have the CA's name, address, and the name of the OC too. Thank you for any help you can privide me.

[RobertEG]

If you dont recognize the debt, the first step is usually to send a request for debt valiation (DV) to the debt collector.

Be sure to request both an itemization of the debt and the name of the origiinal creditor within your DV.

I would not pay until you are satisfied that it is a legitimate debt of yours.

If/when you decide that it is not a debt that you ever authorized, you can file a police report stating as such, and get the collection immediately blocked from your credit report.

See FCRA 605B.

[ChevyGuy]

UPDATE: After speaking with my mom, I believe the debt is legitimate from an MRI I had done on my knee. Neither myself or my mom recall ever seeing a bill (small amount of money, would have just been paid right away). Should I still request a DV, or proceed straight to a PFD attempt?

[cartwrna]

I'd request a DV first and foremost, I'm assuming they won't have the info to validate due to age of account and it will be deleted. Otherwise you could just pay and it looks like from your DOFD that the account will automatically be deleted the end of 2015. It shouldn't be hurting your score a whole lot due to its current age. Good luck!

[RobertEG]

You can certainly send a DV request, but it is not necessarily the best next step.

If you send a timely DV, they have no obligation to reply, and no time period to provide vakidation.

The requirment is that they must cease further collection on the debt until they firsr provide verification.

You could wait and wait, sitting in limbo, with nothing done.

Further, there is no requirment to delete based on lack of verification.

Sending a timely DV will also impose a cease collection bar on any conduct of payment negotiations, preventing you from negotiating a PFD or settlement until they verify.

You put both them and yourself in limbo.

If you can get both satisfactin of the debt and CR deletion, you may wish to offer a PFD instead of pursuing debt verification on a debt you acknowledge as legit.

Your call.......

[ChevyGuy]

I think i'll skip the DV process, as it seems time consuming with little to no real benefit for me. I can definitely PIF if I can get either the OC or CA to agree to a PFD.

I did some research on the CA through the BBB site and saw complaints from individuals who had requested DV's and never received replies. In the complaint rebuttal, the CA offered to delete the collection from the CR if PIF. That alone gives me hope.

[ChevyGuy]

Here is the email i'm about to send. Any suggestions/changes I should make before I send it off? Should I request they remove it from my EQ report only, since EQ is the only bureau reporting the collection?

To Whom It May Concern:

I am active duty Navy, currently deployed to the Persian Gulf. Upon doing some auto loan research I pulled my credit report and to my surprise, found an account in collections listing you as the collection agency.

This email is to inform you that the validity of this debt is disputed. I am not sure of the account number, as I have never heard from you regarding this account. The account number I have is the one listed on my Equifax credit report (115XXXX) which omits the last few digits.

In the spirit of compromise, I am willing to pay this account IN FULL if you agree to immediate deletion of this account from any and all credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). The purpose of this settlement is merely to have this item removed 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, funds for the settlement amount of $115.00 will be sent to American Accounts & Advisors in exchange for full deletion of ALL references regarding this account from my credit files and full satisfaction of the debt.

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 American Accounts & Advisors. It will be implied that this letter shall constitute a legally binding contract, enforceable under the laws of my state.

Due to my deployed status, email is my only form of communication. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Momof5]

NO!  Never tell a CA that you are looking to finance something!  That will prompt them to dig in their heels because they know you are depending upon them.

Before going the CA route, place a call to the OC (Patient accounts and ask to speak to the Manager).  The OC will be much more sympathetic to your AD status.  You call them and explain what you found.  Explain that neither you or your mom ever recall getting a bill and if you had known about this, you would have paid promptly.  Explain that your security clearance can be jeopardized if there is a CA present as it shows that you are not handling money well.  "Beg" them to work with you on this....that you have no problem paying promptly and in full, you are simply requesting that they pull it back from the CA so the CA acct gets deleted from your credit report.

I did this successfully for SIL (Marine), DH(Army and before he was DH), and DD (Navy).

IF and ONLY IF the OC refuses do you request a PFD from the CA.

Good Luck!!!!

[Shokk]

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@Momof5 wrote:

NO!  Never tell a CA that you are looking to finance something!  That will prompt them to dig in their heels because they know you are depending upon them.

Before going the CA route, place a call to the OC (Patient accounts and ask to speak to the Manager).  The OC will be much more sympathetic to your AD status.  You call them and explain what you found.  Explain that neither you or your mom ever recall getting a bill and if you had known about this, you would have paid promptly.  Explain that your security clearance can be jeopardized if there is a CA present as it shows that you are not handling money well.  "Beg" them to work with you on this....that you have no problem paying promptly and in full, you are simply requesting that they pull it back from the CA so the CA acct gets deleted from your credit report.

I did this successfully for SIL (Marine), DH(Army and before he was DH), and DD (Navy).

IF and ONLY IF the OC refuses do you request a PFD from the CA.

Good Luck!!!!

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Momof5, great military family you have there!  Love it!

I agree with what she says though.  Don't ever let them know you need something.  Just make the offer.

I'm guessing phone calls are all that easy to make while deployed on a ship?  I have no idea. (Prior Army and never deployed)  But agreed as well with trying to contact the OC first.  Being a medical debt, they probably still own it.  If you can somehow get in touch with the OC and ask them to recall, then pay them directly, that's the best route.

If they did indeed sell the debt, your letter looks good to me, but remove the personal tidbit about needing to finance something.

Last but not least, thank you for your service!

[Momof5]

They have access when they are in port.  There are more military in the fam.  I am USAF vet.  My 3 oldest and DH's oldest are Army vets.  DH also has a DD in the Navy.  My oldest DD (combat medic vet) is now married to Navy.  We have 9 children total.  6 are or were military.  2 married to military.    DH retired 12/31/15.