Old Bell Atlantic Bill

[Laela]

QUESTION on how to handle this account.

I have a Final Bill from Bell Atlantic dtd Jun 1999 for $442.53. This shows on my credit report as:

COLLECTION ITEMS ON FILE:

BELL ATLANTIC/XXXXXXXX/BELL ATLANTIC

BUREAU NAME: (EFX)

OWNERSHIP: I

DATE OPENED: 6/99

BAL DATE: 3/00

BALANCE AMT: $443

ORIGINAL CREDITOR: BELL ATLANTIC

DATE OF STATUS: 3/00

ACCOUNT STATUS: UNPAID

DATE PAID:

I live in Maryland and I want to know how to have this removed from my credit report. Also, I have recently started getting CA calls on my CELL PHONE. I don't pick up. What's my course of action concerning the calls?

Also, I have a Providian CC and tried calling last month to get a lower interest rate - they said that I had a late payment and it was preventing me from getting a lower rate. I asked WHEN this late payment was made and they said 1998!! Sarcastically I responded with a, "ooooooo, 1998!!" Shouldn't they be using the previous year for decisions as opposed to the lifetime ownership of the card? How can I reduce this effectively?

Laela

[Da_Bill_Collector]

If you have multiple collection accounts, then you should be careful before you pay. The reason being CAs keep their eyes on your credit report and "senses" that now you have $$.

But if this is the only one, then I would pay it now and move on. Others might tell you not to pay since it is close to SOL. Frankly, you don't want to sweat over such a small debt. CA might even settle for 50%. And just make sure to keep your other tradelines current. You can do it.