Two CA's reporting same debt/HSBC shows different dates/payment history/Multiple collections

[Anonymous]

I ran my 3 reports yesterday and came across a few things that I need assistance with:

1) I had a debt with DIRECTV for $330 with a DOFD of 4/2009.  EXP and TU show the CA as Convergent Outsourcing, but EQU shows the CA as W.C.I.  Do I just DV both of them and hope that one of them falls off, or do I call the OC and negotiate payment (if possible) and then DV the CA's after payment since they will no longer be valid debt's?

2) HSBC (Best Buy Charge Card) is reporting on TU as an Adverse Account and shows that I had the card from Jul 06 - Jun 09 with several late payments, but it says my last payment date is 1/14/2005, which doesn't add up.  EQU shows no late payments, paid as agreed, and last payment was 1/2005.  EXP shows paid/closed/never late and the account was closed at consumer's request on 11/2005.  What do I need to do to get this removed from TU?  I didn't even use the card between Jul 06 - Jun 09.

3) I have multiple utility bills / phone bills / cable bills that went to collections (only show CA on my report, not OC).  Should I do as mentioned above in question 1 and contact the OC (if possible) and pay off the debt, then DV the CA and they will have to remove the item since it never existed?  Or should I just DV and PFD with the CA?

Thanks for your help in clearing up my confusion!

[llecs]

1) I'd send a DV to the CA. Paying the OC could result in the CA reporting $0 and you wouldn't want that. And paying the OC doesn't make the debt any less valid.

I suspect that once CA bought the debt from the other or was reassigned the debt from the OC. I bet that one CA forgot to delete. A DV would be a good first step. The one reporting the oldest reported date is the one who should not be reporting.

2) Some CMSs misclassify baddies, reporting them as positive when FICO or lenders would see them as a negative. Something to keep in mind. Assuming for a sec that EX and EQ are reporting as a positive and TU as a negative, then start by reviewing your own statements and make sure there were never any lates or late payments. If all clear, then I'd contact HSBC (ASAP! due to the sale) and see what they come up with. On the flip side, if you were late and it went sour, you wouldn't want EQ and EX updating as a negative too. Tread carefully.

3) I'd DV them. If they verify and you agree, then send a PFD.

[RobertEG]

When did the debt collectors send you dunning notice, and who did they identify in their notice as the owner of the debt?  If you are unsure of ownnership or collection authority, it wont hurt to DV both.  If a debt collector receives your DV and is no longer collecting on the debt, it will most likely just see the bottom of their trash can.  If they still have collection authority and your DV is timely, they are then under a cease collection bar.

If you pay the OC, that wont mandate CR deletion by the debt collector. 

Additionally, if you pay the OC, the collection authority of the debt collector is terminated.  If you then DV the debt collector, they have no obligation to respond, and most likely wont, as they will no longer be conducting collection on the debt.  Their collection did exist, and is not made non-existent by payment of the debt.  If they did choose to respond to any DV request, they could simply verify that that debt is now $0.

If you choose to first DV the debt collector, and your DV is timely, any PFD offers would be put in limbo until such time as they choose to provide the requested debt verification.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so based upon your responses:

1) I'll DV the CA's so that one gets removed and then PFD the other (if they respond in time with a valid debt).

2) It's not possible that I used the card past 2006, so I'll contact HSBC tomorrow and will try to get it removed.

3) I'll just start out DV'ing everyone and then PFD if they come back with it being valid.  Here we go!

Thanks!

[RobertEG]

What if, after your DV (presuming it is still timely), you dont get a response?

You have a cease collection bar imposed on them, thus precluding any PFD negotiations.

Just DV'ing every debt collector may not necessarily be the best next action.

[Anonymous]

The debts have been at least a couple of years since they went to collections.  Some are in California, some are in Oregon.  I'm past the phase of receiving the dunning notice and haven't been receiving calls from any CA's requesting money.  Obviously I'm trying to do whatever I can to get the TL's removed from my CR's.  I have read that doing a DV will sometimes remove the TL all by itself (if the CA can't prove they own the debt), and that it's a segway to a PFD (am I wrong in my assumption?).  I'm just trying to figure out what the most effective route is to get the items removed from my report.  Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

So I checked and most of my baddies are within the SOL for California (4 years) and Oregon (6 years).  I have the money to PIF if needed, but would rather get rid of these with the least possible cost.  Just curious what letter I should send (DV or PFD) out the gate?  Thanks again, this is so confusing....