Please avise on electric co delinquency

[turk7]

Fist...I LOVE this board. the info is graet!

but I'm a little new to this . Please advise as I don't want to screw up on one of my first attempts to remove a bad TL....should I keep arguing or just pay it (I'm also not sure if it is a formal collection as it's still in the "accounts" section not "collections" section on MyFico EQ report...but I think it tanked my score by more than 50 pts recently). Thanks in advance for the help I know I'll get with this.....

Scott

The following is from EQ....

Date opened [?] Jun, 2004

Date of last activity [?] May, 2007

Largest past balance [?] $319

Credit Type [?] Open Account

Account holder [?] Individual

Scheduled payment amount [?] $0

Descriptions [?]

Collection account

Utility

No contact information provided by Equifax

Balance [?] Current Status [?] Past Due Amount [?]

$271 120+ days past due $271

Seven year payment history [?]

30 days late 0 times

60 days late 0 times

90+ days late 0 times

I sent and received the folowing e-mail (also, please advise if e-mail correspondence is a valid form of communication for these purposes)........

Per below, unless it was a JEA error, we can never have anything removed from the Credit Bureau, only updated to a paid in full status with 0 Balance. I can do that as soon as I receive full payment. If you send a personal check, it will take 10 working days before I can send to have it updated.

Thanks,

Kitty Sczubelek

Revenue cycle Services

904-665-5564

Subject: Past Due Bill Account XXXX202790

Dear Mr. Birch,

I was given your name by a member of the customer service department and was unable to speak with you as it was after your normal business hours.

I recently pulled a copy of my credit report and noticed that I had a delinquent account with your company. I moved out of my previous address in July '07 and have an outstanding balance of $271. I had believed, in error that this amount included the month after I moved but have reviewed my payments and invoices and now realize this is correct amount.

I would like to pay this bill in its entirety, but want to ensure that the negative item is removed from my credit report. If you could confirm that this will be done I will pay the bill in full immediately. The negative listing has already adversely affected my credit score and I would like to reverse this.

If you could confirm that you will remove the listing (via e-mail would be fine) I will pay the full amount as soon as I hear from you.

Thanks,

Scott

[Fizzle1979]

I wouldn't pay one cent, unless they agreed to have the account deleted.

[turk7]

Thanks for the advice. If I don't pay I'm a little confused about what will happen...will this become a formal collection and hurt me more than it already is?

what is the effect of a a "paid in full status with 0 Balance". Its still negative correct?

Thanks again for the help!

[turk7]

Hello,

Just got this back in response to my first protest that they could not delete it......

The system automatically is set up to report directly to Equifax once a

customer becomes delinquent after 60 days. This is not done by an

individual. However, an individual has to send an update request for

your report to actually be updated. As far as deleting/removing goes,

yes, we have a strict policy that unless you can clearly see it was

JEA's error, then we can only send to UPDATE. You stated below it was

your error by mistake. I will forward this on to my Boss and he can

check into it and let me know if there is anything else that can be

done.

Sincerely,

Kitty Sczubelek

Revenue Cycle Services

904-665-5564

[Fizzle1979]

Thanks for the advice. If I don't pay I'm a little confused about what will happen...will this become a formal collection and hurt me more than it already is?

what is the effect of a a "paid in full status with 0 Balance". Its still negative correct?

Thanks again for the help!

I think I have you bad advice.

If it is not showing on your credit report, then yes pay it, but take your complaint to the highest level person at the company. If the collection is already on your CR, paying the collection will only get a paid/zero balance. It will not remove the collection account.

[AboveAverage]

Jesus these guys are scumbags...Turk you are definitely in the right place. This is a textbook dispute.

You kinda shot yourself in the foot by admiting to the debt, that's ok though. You can still ask them via certified mail if the debt is even theirs to collect. You are going to have to play hardball until you get that delete. These guys are scumbags and they paid pennies on the dollar for your debt. Fight this tooth-n-nail.

[turk7]

I think I may have confused you guys....

The people I am dealing with are the orginal creditor...an electic company here in Jacksonville...JEA.

The account is currently listed in in my MYFICO equifax credit report in the "accounts" section, not the "collections" section....though there is a notation "collection-utility".....

I'm willing to pay it off if they get rid of the TL....but it seems that they are only willing to update the TL to paid 0 balance....and I'm not sure about whether this is a negative on my report (or at least lkess negative than what is reflected now or wht will be if they send to CA)

Not really sure if there is anything more positive I can do but would really love to have the TL removed

[Fizzle1979]

I think I may have confused you guys....

The people I am dealing with are the orginal creditor...an electic company here in Jacksonville...JEA.

The account is currently listed in in my MYFICO equifax credit report in the "accounts" section, not the "collections" section....though there is a notation "collection-utility".....

I'm willing to pay it off if they get rid of the TL....but it seems that they are only willing to update the TL to paid 0 balance....and I'm not sure about whether this is a negative on my report (or at least lkess negative than what is reflected now or wht will be if they send to CA)

Not really sure if there is anything more positive I can do but would really love to have the TL removed

Merkurfan, wrote a good Pay For Delete aka PFD (search this forum for it) that got him what he wanted. Ask him if you can use it. Basically, it says, if you want your money, I'll pay you, but only if you delete from the CRA's. Of course his letter makes it sound 200% better than I just did.

[turk7]

Thanks.

I'll check the letter out.

If they say no you'd avise that I just let it ride?

[AboveAverage]

I think I may have confused you guys....

The people I am dealing with are the orginal creditor...an electic company here in Jacksonville...JEA.

The account is currently listed in in my MYFICO equifax credit report in the "accounts" section, not the "collections" section....though there is a notation "collection-utility".....

I'm willing to pay it off if they get rid of the TL....but it seems that they are only willing to update the TL to paid 0 balance....and I'm not sure about whether this is a negative on my report (or at least lkess negative than what is reflected now or wht will be if they send to CA)

Not really sure if there is anything more positive I can do but would really love to have the TL removed

Collections is Collections, whether it's a utility or not. Creditors know that a utility only reports to a CRA if it is trying to collect a late debt. If this is the OC keep working them until you get what you want, which is a PFD. You want to pay, but on your terms, not theirs.

One thing that has angered me reading these posts is how stupid people are (those who work in collections). Like they really want to punish you AND get their money. Do not give in, and be firm. What is it to them if you get a negative off their credit report? Why shouldn't you? Just keep being persistant, friend...it will pay off and use alot of the letters that you see here to help you (with your own modifications, of course).