JSnow Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 My DH was unemployed and we moved from VA to AL in June. I didn't pay on anything cause we only had savings for food and such for my 2 kids. Bad, I know, but it was feed my kids or feed the credit cards. Well, now that he has a job and we are caught up on all our utility bills, we can pay them all off!!Here is the kicker. I can pay them all off, but they all just recently were sold to CA. Should I request validation or ask for a PFD?Thanks!Jessica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebug5 Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 My personal opinion may differ from others but...If I were in your shoes...Since you know that these accounts are yours, you know that the balances are yours and you're not disputing ownership, going through the DV process is somewhat worthless. Instead of working with the CA, I'd try to get in touch with the OC's if you're financially able to PFD on every single account. You'll most likely have better luck that way, unless the CA and OC have some type of contract set in place which prevents the OC from working with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnow Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 When I call the OC, they tell me they do not have the account any longer and for me to call the CA. How effective is asking for a PFD? If they say no, do I pay it anyways? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebug5 Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 You basically don't want to be communicating with anyone via phone - the OC or the CA. You want to do everything in writing via CMRRR, to build up a paper trail and not leave any stone unturned.That being said, when you contact an OC or a CA by phone, you most likely end up speaking to an underpaid customer service representative who has absolutely no power to do anything. You want to contact someone higher up, always in writing, and move forward from there.Some OC's will not agree to a PFD, and then you're faced with the decision to either pay on the account and settle for a "Paid" marking or not pay on the account and let it sit. Obviously, I would never recommend the latter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnow Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 well, i know that I want to pay them....but if they say no when I first call, would it be wise to sit on it for a month or so and try again?If the CA will do a PFD, will my CR still show the OC debt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 You need to make sure that when the say "they no longer have the account", that they mean they've sold it. You need to ask specifically if the account has been sold.Often, the OCs use that phrase to mean that they've only contracted with a CA to hassle you. If it hasn't been sold, then personally, I would reply "its my personal policy NOT to deal with collection agencies. I'll be glad to pay you directly. Put me through to your supervisor."If it has been sold, then paying a junk debt buyer so that the can continue their practice of paying pennies on the dollar for the right to hassle people about debts that may legally uncollectable is another thing, I personally, would not do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnow Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 willingtocope,So if it HAS been sold, you are saying to not pay it? Ever? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flacorps Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 willingtocope,So if it HAS been sold, you are saying to not pay it? Ever?How to deal with a JDB depends on many, many factors--most importantly:1. Age of debt--SOL renders debts nearly worthless.2. Availability of "media" (proof of the account) from the OC--if the JDB can't get good media, they'll get nowhwere in court unless they're in Virginia.3. Your scores (if you have good scores, they're likelier to sue).4. Your goals -- if you ever want to buy a house, you need to resolve matters such that they are dead, done and gone. YMMVP.S. - if you indicate who's supposed to have the account now, typically someone on the board can tell if it's a CA or a JDB ... the names don't usually overlap except that NCO tends to call all its business entities "NCO this" and "NCO that" so it can be a little tougher in that situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recovering Attorney Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 UghGet a 3n1 CR to see what, if anything, it says. If nothiong bad shows up, great!Then, who are your creditors? If it is the local doctor or the plumber, and they have sicced a CA on you, you can probably pay them directly. Be a little more savvy about it. However, if you have the wherewithall and just want to close this chapter of your life, just pay them off and start saving for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnow Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 One of them is Bank of america, and the CA writing me and calling is Allied inerstate. I'll look for the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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