AFNI - re-aged account - email

[GiveMe720]

I have a collection item from AFNI on all 3 CRs. 2 match, but the status on the third was changed to show 120 days late. it appears this was done after I called AFNI to see what this collection was for. (Now I know NEVER call the CA).

When I pulled a new Equifax CR the date of last activity is listed as 06/2001.

When I pull my 3 reports from TrueCredit it shows as "Late 120 days" under Equifax"

Based on advise I received on another thread, I am sending an email to the garybrown@afninet.com.

I would like feed back on the email I am sending to make sure I am doing this correctly. This is my first time.

Does the email cover everything I need to say?

I am putting the email in the next post to make it easier for others to use if it proves to be useful.

[GiveMe720]

Subject: Remove account from Credit Reporting Agencies

Mr. Brown,

While monitoring my Credit Reports I noticed your company has a collection account listed on all 3 major Credit Bureaus (Equifax, Expeiran, and Transunion). These items have a negative impact on my credit ratings.

The alleged debt listed on these credit reports is out of Statute of Limitations and the account was illegally re-aged, and must be removed from the Credit Reporting Agnecies. (Date of Last Activity on Equifax: 6/2001) This item is listed on the credit reports as follows:

Equfax:

Company Name: AFNI-Bloom

Account No.: XXXXXXX

TransUnion and Experian:

Company Name: AFNI, Inc,

Account No.: XXXXXXX

If these items are not removed from all Credit bureaus within 24 hours, I will contact my legal counsel for suit.

In addition, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to my credit rating, at any Credit Reporting Agency, after this correspondence, I will consult my legal counsel for suit. This includes any information to the credit reporting agencies that could be inaccurate of invalid.

Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

CC: Roy Cooper

Attorney General

State of North Carolina

[thomassl]

I personally would not send an email. You initially say that you contacted the CA by phone to find out what the debt was. Then in your letter, you state that the debt is SOL and re-aged. How can you say this if you don't know what the debt is? Sending an email also does not provide you with a paper trail as unless they respond the same way, you have nothing! I would DV the collection agency certified mail first. They don't have to answer you but they have to either remove the debt if they can't verify or it stays on your report if they can. I would also dispute it with the CRA's. Be aware that if you do own the debt and it is within the SOL, they can come after you. Since you called them, they already have been notified and will take steps if the debt is valid.

[HERich]

I recieved a phone bill from Afni collection for a bill from 9/2000. I wrote them & stated it was not me.They sent me the original bill & when I called they had my SS# & DOB. I told them I have lived at my current address for over 8 years & I have not lived in that area for that period. The address on the bill was where my mother had lived but she has passed for 2 years. They wanted me to call the police & claim fraud, what should I do?

[dpgirl]

To HERich:

Tell them to get lost. The statute of limitations in New Jersey (you are in New Jersy?) is six years. September of 2000 would make this bill nearly seven years old. Whether or not this is really yours it has passed the time when they can take any legal action and nearly passed the time when it can show up on a credit report. That would be September of this year.

Send them a cease and desist letter. If they contact you after that you can sue them for contacting you and they cannot countersue you for this debt due to the SOL having expired.

Feel better?

[dpgirl]

To the OP:

If the date of last activity is listed as 6-2001 how have they reaged it? Is that date not accurate as the date of last activity, is it older? That is the date that determines how long this will be reported. Using that date this item is scheduled to fall off your reports on 6-2008. I'm sure you want it gone now but I don't see from what you have listed that it has been re-aged.

I agree about the e-mailing, it's easier but harder to prove if you need to that the communication was received.

You should really get copies of your reports straight from the CRA's for more accurate information. The SOL for this account has also passed in your state.

[momof5]

Everyone,

I am the one who gave her the email addy. I had great success emailing Gary Brown and 2 Cingular collections were closed and deleted.

OP, Don't start hostile! Gary is a nice guy and in his case, you will get far better results with honey than you will with vinegar. Play stupid...you don't know about this debt....blah blah.

Although the debt is outside SOL, it is still reportable. CAs are notorious for leaving a listing with "disputed by consumer - meets FCRA requirements.." blah.

At 6 years of age, they may not have the complete data. If they don't Gary will simply close it and delete it.

[GiveMe720]

Everyone,

OP, Don't start hostile! Gary is a nice guy and in his case, you will get far better results with honey than you will with vinegar. Play stupid...you don't know about this debt....blah blah.

Thanks for the advice ... Do you have a sample of the email you sent...Did you use wording for one of the DV sample letters?

[GiveMe720]

One other thing.

The AFNI has this listed with 2 differeent account numbers. The Account number on Trans union and Experian Match. The account number on Equifax looks like they prefixed the acct number with ALLTEL- and replaced the last 4 digits with "****""

Do I need to address these with separate letters/emails?

[GiveMe720]

To the OP:

If the date of last activity is listed as 6-2001 how have they reaged it? Is that date not accurate as the date of last activity, is it older?

I had an ALLTEL account which I closed (actually just did not renew the contract) in 1999. The date of last activity for this would be sometime in the summer or fall of 1999, but I no longer have any paperwork to prove the dates.

I do not know if this is re-aging, but I do know the date of last activity is incorrect.

[momof5]

Keep it simple.

Your last post is all you need to tell him...

"Dear Mr. Gary Brown,

I am hoping you can help me! Recently I pulled a copy of my CR from EQ EX and TU. I was surprised to find AFNI on there with the following info:

(list it)

On EQ it lists the account number as ALLTEL1234XXXX.

All I can tell you is that once upon a year, I did have an Alltel account, and here is what is IMPORTANT....I closed that account in 1999! When I closed the account, it was at end of contract and I had a current account with a 0 balance!

Alltel my have had a system hiccup or something - or this is not my account. I cannot tell you which. *IF* it is my OLD account, that debt would not only be past the SOL, it would also be illegal to report it to the CRAs because it over 7 years. If it is not my old account, then you need to get it off my credit report and find the real account holder.

I have tried dealing with others and had no success (ok a little white lie, but he doesn't need to know that). I searched the internet and came up with your email.

Please help! This one account is seriously hurting my credit!

You may respond by email or USPS @

Giveme720

123 main st

city, state 00000

THANKS!!!!!

Giveme710"

[GiveMe720]

merci beaucoup! momof5

I am just trying to get started right...alot of info to absorb.

I also know i have a long road a head.

[dpgirl]

This account was definately re-aged if the real date of last activity was 1999.

Are you sure you can't prove it?? How exasperating. Good luck then with the e-mail contact, hopefully that will work for you.

[HERich]

DPgirl ,

Thanx or the info. It does make me feel better, I work very hard to keep my credit rating in very good standing. It would be very discouraging if something like this were to damage it. Again thanx for the good news.

HERich

[tones]

I have a collection item from AFNI on all 3 CRs. 2 match, but the status on the third was changed to show 120 days late. it appears this was done after I called AFNI to see what this collection was for. (Now I know NEVER call the CA).

When I pulled a new Equifax CR the date of last activity is listed as 06/2001.

When I pull my 3 reports from TrueCredit it shows as "Late 120 days" under Equifax"

Based on advise I received on another thread, I am sending an email to the garybrown@afninet.com.

I would like feed back on the email I am sending to make sure I am doing this correctly. This is my first time.

Does the email cover everything I need to say?

I am putting the email in the next post to make it easier for others to use if it proves to be useful.

GiveMe720, did you ever get anywhere with emailing AFNI? They just did the same thing to me (120 days) and I will be emailing Monday, jsut wanted to see if you had any success. Thanks.

[GiveMe720]

GiveMe720, did you ever get anywhere with emailing AFNI? They just did the same thing to me (120 days) and I will be emailing Monday, jsut wanted to see if you had any success. Thanks.

I have had no reply, and nothing has changed on the tradeline for this. I had sent the email on and received email "was read" message about 2 minutes after my email was sent.

I sent DV 5 days ago...waiting for return receipt, then will dispute again...perhaps the emil approach lost its effectiveness after the first few (or one)...I also noticed the tradeline on Equifax for this is now listed as an installment account, changed from a collection account.