LDG Financial/ Verizon Wireless question (FL)

[james_1_2_3_4]

I am trying to help my nephew with a collection. OC is Verizon Wireless, CA is LDG Financial. It is for $250 total. They received a settlement offer for $150 to pay by 7/31. (letter states LDG is agent for Verizon) I was working to get a letter from them stating account would be considered paid in full when offer was paid. They said they would need to revise some of my wording. I never got back the letter b/c when I tried contacting them again to give fax # I could not reach anybody. This was late yesterday (7/31). Called this morning and hit a brick wall, they now say no deals, no letters, pay full amount due.

A few particulars:

-Person who has debt said they were going to pay by 7/31 (same date as offered on letter)- does that matter?

-Only item on CRA is Verizon (No LDG)

-LDG is CCA licensed in FL (location of debtor)

- Talked to Verizon customer service, they said debt was charged-off and sold to LDG. I contacted Verizon executive offices to intervene noting that LDG was being rude and uncooperative. They did contact them and said they could not persuade them to do anything. Person at Verizon did say they could take payment in full through their collections dept. (I was pressing to settle with them and only after much begging for help would they even entertain this idea, but only with CA fees added).

My questions are this:

-What are ramifications if I try DV? If this account is paid, will it really be an advantage on credit report?

Since I intervened, the CA has been calling my nephew 10+times a day. Should I send DV letter with note to stop calling and hope to catch them on harassment or other technicality?

I have read in discussion boards about Verizon as being very tough. If LDG is an assignor for Verizon, what does that do for me?

If LDG is paid will they then report to CRA and give another black mark to the CR?

I probably forgot a few more things, but I was trying to help at the last minute and feel I have missed an opportunity (end of month) to settle.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Gregg:-)

[elyse449]

First of all, it's nice you'd help your nephew with this. I think some of us take it for granted because we're "so used" to dealing with it, but it can be daunting.

Anyway, here are my initial thoughts, not sure they're worth 2 cents, lol-but here they are.

You said; My questions are this:

-What are ramifications if I try DV?

Nephew or you made offer to pay, that's basically acknowledging that this acct is his. I don't think it'd hurt to TRY it at least, but that's my initial thought on the DV.

You said; If this account is paid, will it really be an advantage on credit report?

No, absolutely not. You'd need to really work w/ them on altering their reporting status. The one thing that seems to play a part to though is how old the debt is. You can offer a "pay for delete" which essentially means, nephew pays debt in FULL and they delete the TL. They're getting nastier and nastier these days though. One person once said, "CA's aren't out to ruin your credit, they just want their money..." and ya know, I truly BEG TO DIFFER on that one. I think they ARE out to ruin people, at least some of them are.

You said; Since I intervened, the CA has been calling my nephew 10+times a day.

They do it because they think they can. Often times, this is what contacting the CA's by phone does. You must try to only work w/ them in letter form. Either way, his is illegal and they need to be reported to the appropriate agencies. FTC, AG and BBB. I may be mistaken, but I thought there was a cap of three calls/contacts per week for CA's??

Should I send DV letter with note to stop calling and hope to catch them on harassment or other technicality?

Yes on both. Let them hang themselves, I've done this myself and actually got a CA to back off, quit attempting to collect AND remove their TL from my CR's! In your DV, include a partial "cease and desist" request. Inform them that YOU(nephew) ARE NOT to be called any further by phone. In fact, he has the right to request that they not contact him at all "other than to inform him that his acct is closed or their legal intent" but this wouldn't help you folks in working with them.

You said; I have read in discussion boards about Verizon as being very tough. If LDG is an assignor for Verizon, what does that do for me?

Unsure. Verizon can be tough to work with. Remember, all correspondance should be in LETTER form and it should be sent CMRRR (certified mail, return receipt requested).

You said; If LDG is paid will they then report to CRA and give another black mark to the CR?

Yes. They will, more than likely report report it as a "paid collection." I recently paid a Chevron card up-and before I paid it, it WAS NOT reporting as a charge off....now it's reporting as a "paid charge off." So as you can see, it did me NO good. My credit score fell by like 40 pts.

Good luck and don't give up.

Elyse

[james_1_2_3_4]

I think I didn't explain the part about LDG and CR. His credit report is showing Verizon as charge off, but there is no note about LDG yet. If Verizon changes to Charge off pd, isn't that about the same as a charge off (points wise I mean)?

I was wanting to DV LDG b4 they put on his CR, kind of preemptive strike so if they do try and put on we can get them on reporting without DV.

Here is a copy of letter I am going to send (fudged from sample letters):

LDG Financial

4553 Winters Chapel Rd

Atlanta, GA 30360

Date: 08/01/2006

Re: Acct # xxxxxxx

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me. Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 ( that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.

Please provide me with the following:

· What the money you say I owe is for;

· Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;

· Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;

· Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;

· Identify the original creditor;

· Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account

· Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state

· Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureau’s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

· Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

· Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

· Defamation of Character

If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following Declaration, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.

Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.

I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.

It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.

Best Regards,

__________________________________________

I will definitely do CMRRR, and I want to get fax off as soon as possible, hopefully gettting them to stop calling.

Thank you for the thoughts.

Gregg:-)