Fidelity Creditor Svc - What steps should I take to (hopefully) get a successful PFD

[iwasadonkey]

Here's the entry I see on 2 of my 3 credit reports:

 

FIDELITY CREDITOR SVC

Address:                                                       Account Number: 123

216 S LOUISE ST GLENDALE, CA 91205
(818) 502­1981
Address Identification Number:

0613174780
Status: Collection account. $598 past due as of Jul 2013.

Original Creditor:

U S MERCHANT SYSTEMS

Status Details: This account is scheduled to continue on record until Jan 2017.

Credit Limit/Original Amount:

$468

High Balance:

NA

Recent Balance:

$598 as of 07/2013

Recent Payment:

2009

Date Opened:

12/2010

Reported Since:

02/2011

Date of Status:

02/2011

Last Reported:

07/2013

2013

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

NOV OCT SEP AUG JUL JUN MAY APR MAR FEB

CCCCCCCCCC

Account History:

Collection as of Feb 2011 to Jul 2013 

 

 

 

What steps would you take to get this deleted from the CRAs?

 

Try going to the OC or straight to Fidelity? Anyone have experience getting Fidelity to do a PFD?

 

Thanks!

[Torden]

Is this a "not mine" debt?  Or is there another reason it should come off like "already paid off"?

[iwasadonkey]

Frankly I don't remember doing business with the OC named. I did have a couple merchant accounts back around those years, but some changed names, merged, etc. and as far as I was ever aware, all of my fees were paid (in fact, for merchant accounts, they take the money straight out of the account they send deposits to usually). I may have been down as a personal guarantor at some point, though I just can't recall the name of the OC listed.

 

At this point, my scores are 690, 685, 665. If I can get my middle up to 700 then I can refi my mortgage and get away from the PMI. This is the only active negative mark on my report. I had some pretty severe collections in 2006/7 that I ended up settling and getting marked as "Paid as Agreed" in 2009. Hoping that clearing this up might give me that 15pt boost. Am I dreaming?

[Torden]

Has either the OC or CA ever contacted you directly?  If not, I would dispute with the CRA as "not mine".

[iwasadonkey]

Has either the OC or CA ever contacted you directly?  If not, I would dispute with the CRA as "not mine".

 

No. Then again, I did move several times (always kept USPS updated for mail forwarding though). Not sure if that affects things.

[Torden]

Are you still willing to pay this debt to get a delete, even if it is not yours?

[iwasadonkey]

Are you still willing to pay this debt to get a delete, even if it is not yours?

 

 

Basically, yes, because the small amount now would (hopefully) boost my score up the 15 points I need in order to get qualified for a much better refi before rates keep going up.

[BTO429]

PFD are virtually impossible, in order to enforce an agreement to delete a contract would need to be signed. Collection agencies do not like to sign any thing that will take the leverage away from them.

 

Since your credit is high enough for about any credit I would just leave it alone. If they have contacted you send them a refusal to pay letter. This may force them to sue but in court if you offer a pay for delete and they accept there is a binding court order for them to delete it.

 

Why on earth would a person pay a debt that has not been proven to be their is beyond me. You will be wasting a lot of energy and time trying to get them to sign an agreement to delete.

[iwasadonkey]

Sorry to revive this from the grave. I'm writing my "Not Mine" letter now for the CRAs. Should I send anything to Fidelity as well, or just stick with the CRA dispute?

 

 

To recap: Never received anything from the collection agency.

 

 

Thanks!

[TomnTex]

I agree with Gunny, don't pay them. Send the C&D and forget about them.

[admin]

@iwasadonkey - Definitely do a "not mine" letter to the CRAs.  Then write a C&D letter to the collection agency.   For a small amount, there is not much enticement to take this off your credit report if you do pay.   

[iwasadonkey]

Update - It came back as "verified"

 

 

I'm going to simultaneously DV the CA and dispute the CRA with a few specific reasons.

[admin]

PFD are virtually impossible, in order to enforce an agreement to delete a contract would need to be signed. Collection agencies do not like to sign any thing that will take the leverage away from them.

 

I don't agree with this.  Many people have had success doing this.