jack_a Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 ....I started my journey into rebuilding my credit. I started with a EX 562, a 505 TU, and a 542 EQ. 90% of everything on my report was my fault, but I wanted to see what some sweet talking and correspondence would get me before shelling out money. I can't believe how much fun this is...really. I love talking to collection agencies now. Anyways, some of the things I have done to date:I had a SBC entry for $110 that I sent a planetfeedback.com complaint letter on. I sent it off Monday and they have already confirmed that they are removing the entry. One day! I then wrote a "happy" planetfeedback.com letter with their names in it for helping me out.I called FNBO to dispute a $216 hit I took. She couldn't find me in the database, so she said she's removing it, and mailing a UDF for my records.I also called Portfolio Recovery and offered to pay two accounts, in exchange for removal from my credit report. They refused. Later that day I found an email for Mike Benedict on this website, and sent him a personal email asking for removal. He replied and said that he was deleting both entries and mailing me a UDF.I had a utility company from Denver I owed $53. I told them that I'd pay them as soon as they could remove it. I filled out a form and mailed it back. They in turn mailed me an agreement to remove and furnish a UDF upon payment. Off the check went.A bank account from Frost here in Texas said I owed them $535. When I called to dispute that one, I told them of my long history with their bank, that I lived in a place that was impossible for me to use their services, and told them that both of my self-employed parents bank with them. Then I was told that it was THEIR mistake, they apologized, and promised to send me a letter saying as much.I found a fax number for Pamela Benton with Sprint PCS on this site, and sent a fax stating that I wanted to deal with Sprint and not Cavalry, their unhousetrained pitbull. She called me the next morning and emailed me my billing history. I'm now in the process of working with them to remove the entry before I pay them.Now, the big boy. I had my car repossessed in November and some sleazy attorney named Charles Soffar had my file. I made it a point to engage in friendly, benign (sports, movies, etc) conversation every time my rep from there called. And I wrote everything down. One day, I told him that if he could arrange for the item to be completely deleted and if he could fax me a statement signed by the great Mr. Soffar himself saying such, I'd be willing to settle. No fax. So I called the next day, told my guy that I wanted a new account rep and that I would settle the minute that they could verify that the new agent would get the commission. He flipped and I had the fax I wanted the prior day in thirty minutes. I mailed off the check right away.I still have a lot to do, but this is just a hybrid way of doing things that I've picked up from folks here. Now, my question...I have a bunch of entries from apartment complexes. Three, to be exact. One is listed as "customer disputed account-reported by subscriber", and two just say "placed for collection". Any ideas on how to go about this? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codename_fortyseven Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 I'd call the apartment folks and make nicey nice with them. Offer to pay for deletion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miracle Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 I started my journey into rebuilding my credit. I started with a EX 562, a 505 TU, and a 542 EQ. 90% of everything on my report was my fault, but I wanted to see what some sweet talking and correspondence would get me before shelling out money. I can't believe how much fun this is...really. I love talking to collection agencies now. Anyways, some of the things I have done to date: Welcome Jack_A! I had a SBC entry for $110 that I sent a planetfeedback.com complaint letter on. I sent it off Monday and they have already confirmed that they are removing the entry. One day! I then wrote a "happy" planetfeedback.com letter with their names in it for helping me out. Awesome!!I called FNBO to dispute a $216 hit I took. She couldn't find me in the database, so she said she's removing it, and mailing a UDF for my records. Even more awesome! I also called Portfolio Recovery and offered to pay two accounts, in exchange for removal from my credit report. They refused. Later that day I found an email for Mike Benedict on this website, and sent him a personal email asking for removal. He replied and said that he was deleting both entries and mailing me a UDF. Sweet! I had a utility company from Denver I owed $53. I told them that I'd pay them as soon as they could remove it. I filled out a form and mailed it back. They in turn mailed me an agreement to remove and furnish a UDF upon payment. Off the check went. Cheers!A bank account from Frost here in Texas said I owed them $535. When I called to dispute that one, I told them of my long history with their bank, that I lived in a place that was impossible for me to use their services, and told them that both of my self-employed parents bank with them. Then I was told that it was THEIR mistake, they apologized, and promised to send me a letter saying as much. That rocks!I found a fax number for Pamela Benton with Sprint PCS on this site, and sent a fax stating that I wanted to deal with Sprint and not Cavalry, their unhousetrained pitbull. She called me the next morning and emailed me my billing history. I'm now in the process of working with them to remove the entry before I pay them. Good Luck! I hope that works out as well as everything else has! Now, the big boy. I had my car repossessed in November and some sleazy attorney named Charles Soffar had my file. I made it a point to engage in friendly, benign (sports, movies, etc) conversation every time my rep from there called. And I wrote everything down. One day, I told him that if he could arrange for the item to be completely deleted and if he could fax me a statement signed by the great Mr. Soffar himself saying such, I'd be willing to settle. No fax. So I called the next day, told my guy that I wanted a new account rep and that I would settle the minute that they could verify that the new agent would get the commission. haha! Amazing how quickly they change their minds when money is involved isn't it? hahaHe flipped and I had the fax I wanted the prior day in thirty minutes. I mailed off the check right away. Great JOb! I still have a lot to do, but this is just a hybrid way of doing things that I've picked up from folks here. Now, my question...I have a bunch of entries from apartment complexes. Three, to be exact. One is listed as "customer disputed account-reported by subscriber", and two just say "placed for collection". Any ideas on how to go about this? Thanks! Sounds like you are on the right path! You are doing just wonderful. Sounds like one of the accounts is already disputed with the CRA, have you sent disputes on them? Have you sent DV letters to the CA's? That would be your first step. Awesome, Awesome job!!!!!! Keep up the great work and keep us posted! Good Luck! -Jenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I disputed _everything_. The worst they can do is prove it's mine, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrine Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 You make it look easy, jack.Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I would never say that it was easy. Most of this was very time consuming. I'm fortunate enough to have a very flexible job that allowed me to spend hours kissing rear and/or BS'ing. I guess the point of my post was to say that there is more than one way to skin a cat. And that although it's not instant, you can see results after just a month, so people shouldn't get discouraged. If someone won't help, hang up and call back and get a different person. I bet I called FNBO ten times. The search engine for this site rocks. If you're having a problem with a CA or a Bureau, type the name in and develop a strategy. I told myself that I wasn't going to post here until I had a success story rather than to ask for help. There's just too much information on this board to learn for yourself rather than to beg for mercy. Well, except for one thing...The apartment thing has me a little in arms, and let me describe my problem. I was a real problem tenant for most of my early twenties. I have three complexes after me for amounts ranging from 270 to 1400. Something under SKY recovery is listed twice, so i disputed both and cited the other charge for a double listing. Same thing with another under National Credit System...one already has my listed as disputing. The other place doesn't have a collection agency listed, just the charge. I called the complex and they had no idea where collections went, not even the manager. I ask if she'd put that in writing and she got skittish. So I still have my work cut out for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocDon Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Thank you for sharing your story, jack_a. Very creative!Good motivation for our newer members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 (I'm using this thread to keep an online summary of my scores)Feb 1st - EX 562, 505 TU, 542 EQMar 10- EX 562, TU 562, EQ 548 Lookin' a little better, I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 (I'm using this thread to keep an online summary of my scores)Feb 1st - EX 562, 505 TU, 542 EQMar 10- EX 562, TU 562, EQ 548 Lookin' a little better, I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 Nice, It is fun and its addictive, -- I think because we know its good for us, its O.K. to have addictions that result or yeild positive results.Other people are addicted to less fruitful things, such as gambling, fraud, stealing, etc. Imagine that and they could be doing this and raising them selves to a level of higher existence. I like the planetfeedback letter to SBC, Idea...those fools are always attempting to charge unknowing consumers for goods or services that they don't deliver as promised. Companies like that have ruined many a families & individuals chances for success in this world, like they really needed the money any way... for those extra 5 features that you didn't ask for or ever use 1 time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 Nice, It is fun and its addictive, -- I think because we know its good for us, its O.K. to have addictions that result or yeild positive results.Other people are addicted to less fruitful things, such as gambling, fraud, stealing, etc. Imagine that and they could be doing this and raising them selves to a level of higher existence. I like the planetfeedback letter to SBC, Idea...those fools are always attempting to charge unknowing consumers for goods or services that they don't deliver as promised. Companies like that have ruined many a families & individuals chances for success in this world, like they really needed the money any way... for those extra 5 features that you didn't ask for or ever use 1 time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyButler Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 Talk about thinking outside the box! Most folks will jump at the promise of monetary incentives... Glad it worked for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyButler Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 Talk about thinking outside the box! Most folks will jump at the promise of monetary incentives... Glad it worked for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2005 emails from Experian...Report Date: March 09, 2005COLLECTION COMPANY OFAccount Number: 436.... Outcome: Deleted PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFILAccount Number: 492210203.... Outcome: Pending PIERCE HAMILTON & STERAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: Remains NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: Updated NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: Updated SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 0000000000012.... Outcome: Pending SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 9800000000012.... Outcome: Pending FNBOAccount Number: 545315200107.... Outcome: Updated CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: Remains BC SERVICESAccount Number: 137.... Outcome: Deleted Pending Items NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 PIERCE HAMILTON & STERNAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICAccount Number: 565.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005Report date: March 13, 2005PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFILAccount Number: 558281377.... Outcome: Deleted SUPERIOR ASSET MANAGEMAccount Number: 1060.... Outcome: Remains SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 0000000000012.... Outcome: Deleted SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 9800000000012.... Outcome: Deleted HSBC AUTOAccount Number: 5000000068.... Outcome: Remains Pending Items NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 PIERCE HAMILTON & STERNAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICAccount Number: 565.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2005 emails from Experian...Report Date: March 09, 2005COLLECTION COMPANY OFAccount Number: 436.... Outcome: Deleted PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFILAccount Number: 492210203.... Outcome: Pending PIERCE HAMILTON & STERAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: Remains NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: Updated NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: Updated SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 0000000000012.... Outcome: Pending SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 9800000000012.... Outcome: Pending FNBOAccount Number: 545315200107.... Outcome: Updated CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: Remains BC SERVICESAccount Number: 137.... Outcome: Deleted Pending Items NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 PIERCE HAMILTON & STERNAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICAccount Number: 565.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005Report date: March 13, 2005PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFILAccount Number: 558281377.... Outcome: Deleted SUPERIOR ASSET MANAGEMAccount Number: 1060.... Outcome: Remains SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 0000000000012.... Outcome: Deleted SKY RCVRY SERVICESAccount Number: 9800000000012.... Outcome: Deleted HSBC AUTOAccount Number: 5000000068.... Outcome: Remains Pending Items NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 77.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMSAccount Number: 76.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 PIERCE HAMILTON & STERNAccount Number: 125.... Outcome: PendingDate: April 09, 2005 CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICAccount Number: 565.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 CREDIT MANAGEMENT INCAccount Number: 2096.... Outcome: PendingDate: March 27, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 FICO's-EQ- 633EQ- 530TU- 558 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 FICO's-EQ- 633EQ- 530TU- 558 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_a Posted March 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 OK, so I'm having problems with FNBO/Sterling Bank now. I pulled a report on Friday, and they were still on it (TU)! I also disputed this and it came back verified! So I call FNBO at 800-755-5249, and was told that they haven't had my account since 9-13-01, and it was a Sterling Bank card acc't that they returned. I call Sterling at a new number that FNBO gave me (800-650-5929), and they tell me that they can't do anything becuase they don't have the account, and that I need to contact FNBO. So I call FNBO back and am told that I need to contact CCB, their collections department at 800-473-7994. I call CCB, who tells me that they no longer have the account, and that I need to call Sterling at 800-424-8518. I call Sterling, who tells me that THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ACCOUNT! So I call FNBO and raise a little hell.The supervisor at FNBO gives me Sterling's chargeoffs number, 800-252-1772, since THEY DON"T HAVE THIS ACCOUNT! Frustrated, I call this number and raise a little hell. This CSR tells me that she can't even find me in the computer, and that I need to call their infobank at 877-856-2508. I ask for a supervisor and am told that they have all left for the day (this is at 4:00 CST).SO finally I call this infobank and am told that this account is so old that they can't do anything. I tell them that they have been doing something every month for at least the past 24 months, reporting it to the credit bureaus. She says that it has "Z" status, which means that it's a prehistoric chargeoff. When I said that I wanted to pay for it in exchange for deletion, she gave me 800-473-7994 and told me that they would take care of it.So finally I call that number and guess what? It's CCB, and they want nothing to do with this. The supervisor tells me that they have repeatedly told me that this wasn't their account, and to stop calling them as they couldn't do anything for me.WTF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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