Chase settlement offer - researching options and would appreciate guidance

[bigmistake22]

1 hour ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

Not all medical collections wind up on credit reports.  Those are usually relatively easy to negotiate a payment plan. If you are paying the whole thing off, they will pretty much take any payment plan you offer.  Negotiating a settlement for less than the full amount can usually be done. Every place is different.  
 

 

Unfortunately, my 3 medical collections (each about $600) are on my report.  I don't have info from the CA but I asked the hospital for an itemized bill. Hopefully that will help me first this out. One was for $25...are you kidding me? A negative mark for $25? So frustrating. I am going to research to figure out where to start first. I heard you can negotiate with the hospital to pay and it will be taken out of collections. I hope to do that. 

Thanks again

[shadow99]

51 minutes ago, bigmistake22 said:

Unfortunately, my 3 medical collections (each about $600) are on my report.  I don't have info from the CA but I asked the hospital for an itemized bill. Hopefully that will help me first this out. One was for $25...are you kidding me? A negative mark for $25? So frustrating. I am going to research to figure out where to start first. I heard you can negotiate with the hospital to pay and it will be taken out of collections. I hope to do that. 

Thanks again

Read this - https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/changes-impact-medical-debt-on-credit-reports/

Sounds like there may be some relief coming for medical bills on your credit report.

[bigmistake22]

2 minutes ago, shadow99 said:

Read this - https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/changes-impact-medical-debt-on-credit-reports/

 

this would be great! Obviously, I would still owe but it would be nice if it was removed. Thanks so much for sending some hope!

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

1 hour ago, bigmistake22 said:

 

 

  If anyone is reading this, listen to Backfromthedebt...and don't stick your head in the sand. I could have saved myself a ton of money that way!

 

That is the most important takeaway.

 

When I got into trouble, I had 2 rental properties under water and losing money, as well as over $100k in unsecured debt from various banks.  (Mostly credit cards).  

 

I ignored the issues with the mortgages until after they sued me.  I wound up settling one for a short sale, but the other was a foreclosure which kept me from refi for many years.  If I had acted sooner, I might have gotten a short sale for both.  In fact, my real estate agent set up a short sale which was rejected.  Instead the place was unoccupied for 6 months before they finally sold it for $10 k less than the short sale we offered.  Go figure.  

 

As for the credit card debt, I came onto CIC before I defaulted to work out my strategy. 

 

I wound up with the following:

I kept my low interest USAA card.  They never cx the card, so I still have it, and I still use it.  

I used rental income to settle FNBO and pay off the low balance cards.

Everything else I fought like heck.  In those days, the bank records were often really bad, so most of the money I was never sued on.  

The rest all went into arbitration.  I wound up collecting more from FDCPA violations than I paid in court losses and FNBO settlements.  

 

Some of my tactics won't work these days.  Cap 1 got rid of their arbitration, for example.  Also, another bank made a very serious blunder which caused their arbitration attorney to force them to settle for a mutual walkaway.  That was possible because I saved the illegal letter I got from the bank, as well as the response I sent to them CMRRR.  They were completely ****** because I saved everything.  

Other settlements and FDCPA suits were possible because I saved and documented EVERYTHING.

The moral is, the sooner you start planning, the better.  

 

 

[Bulldoger]

2 hours ago, bigmistake22 said:

this would be great! Obviously, I would still owe but it would be nice if it was removed. Thanks so much for sending some hope!

 

My experience with unpaid medical bills is that they remove collection from credit bureaus them once paid.  I haven't settled a medical bill always paid full amount owed.  Usually, they were a bills that just fell though the cracks most likely toss before opening, My mail person loves to bury mail in with the Junk Flyers I don't always catch them. 

[bigmistake22]

3 hours ago, Bulldoger said:

My experience with unpaid medical bills is that they remove collection from credit bureaus them once paid.  I haven't settled a medical bill always paid full amount owed.  Usually, they were a bills that just fell though the cracks most likely toss before opening, My mail person loves to bury mail in with the Junk Flyers I don't always catch them. 

 

Thank you! I am trying to figure out where the heck this $650 one came from...it's big enough I feel I would have remembered it (or remembered what I had done that they charged). I can't. I asked for an itemized bill - i guess we will go from there. I have a few of these medical in collections so I'm going to try and settle up and be done with them. They all just say "collection" and not charge off so there's hope I can get them cleared up and removed. At least, that's what my tired brain is hoping at the moment. 

Thanks for your guidance...it's appreciated!

Also, I love your pupper!

 

[Bulldoger]

Just now, bigmistake22 said:

 

Thank you! I am trying to figure out where the heck this $650 one came from...it's big enough I feel I would have remembered it (or remembered what I had done that they charged). I can't. I asked for an itemized bill - i guess we will go from there. I have a few of these medical in collections so I'm going to try and settle up and be done with them. They all just say "collection" and not charge off so there's hope I can get them cleared up and removed. At least, that's what my tired brain is hoping at the moment. 

Thanks for your guidance...it's appreciated!

Also, I love your pupper!

 

The end of credit report list contact information for the accounts on your report start there. If number listed then call them ask who was O.C. and if you can have last statement sent to you.  

 

[bigmistake22]

13 hours ago, Bulldoger said:

The end of credit report list contact information for the accounts on your report start there. If number listed then call them ask who was O.C. and if you can have last statement sent to you.  

 

Great idea - thanks. I know it's the hospital but I really have no clue what they could be billing me for. I'll reach out to them today.

New day, new things to tackle...

[bigmistake22]

Wanted to post a quick update, esp since you all were so helpful with all of my questions. Adding detail in case someone else finds this thread and it helps (I know I dig into older posts to learn more)

 

 

Main issue: should I settle my Chase CO and when should I settle.

As mentioned in the comments, I waited until I had enough for a lump sum and offered them half of the settlement offer ($2200 --> $1100). They asked if I could do $1800. I said I didn't have more than $1200. They accepted. Settled for 13% of full balance. That was in March/April.

It took a few months for the credit reports to update. TU, EX and EQ all updated quickly but only TU and EX reported accurately the first two months (April/May). My credit took a hit for updating the payment info (it hadn't been updated since 2019), esp w/ Experian. In March my score was a mere 626. Then, they updated that it to show a CO through March 2022 (accurate) but didn't update the balance so it looked like I still owed. My credit plummeted 29 points to a 597. I wanted to cry but knew from other posts said that might happen. I waited until May refresh and saw nothing changed on Experian so I called Chase directly to let them know that Ex still hadn't updated the balance.  The submitted a dispute to them directly and I'm happy to report that on 5/27, they updated my balance to show $0. My credit bounced up an additional 32 points. That, in addition to paying down my CC from 10% to 4%, paying my medical debts (all but one was removed b/c I left it unpaid so I can fight it b/c they have the wrong DOFD) brought my score up to 650.

I know it's not a very good score yet - I have a lot to work on but it's good to know i "m headed in the right direction. I think I made all the big payments and changes that I can, for now.  I couldn't have done this without all of your guidance. Thank you so so much!

I still have baddies on the report - ones that I can't do anything about but wait (b/c they are CO) or I have to work w/ the agency to correct the DOFD (medical debt that will fall off is they update correctly). Both will take time. Next phase is make a strategy to bulk up my thin file with an additional card and/or installment loan of some kind (I have a mortgage but no loans and only one CC)

Currently, my report has these bad guys: 

1 outstanding medical debt ($650) - DOFD listed as 2016 but dates of service were 2015. If they update the DOFD, it will fall off the report. I'm still wiling to pay, I just don't want it on my report, so I'm going to fight it. Waiting to hear back from CA after a discussion last week. 

1 CO - Comenity: : $350. It was sold to another lender so I paid this last week to the new lender (CA) I think/hope they will update the CR to reflect it's paid but I'm not sure. They are supposed to.  

Student Loans: Navient/Closed (non-payment, sold to another lender (Great Lakes). I'm currently consolidating them so I can request they are forgiven through the Public Service Student Loan forgiveness program) but that will take time. I don't' think the late payments on the account will go away but, at the very least, I know I won't have anyone coming after or suing me ones the payment pause is lifted. I wish there was a way to work w/ Navient on this but they are not budging since it's the equivalent of a charge off and they no longer own the loan. I'm hoping I can goodwill them to death until I find a compassionate soul who will assist. I've about similar miracles happening but I wont' get my hopes up.

1 CC - closed - Old Navy w/ a late payment from Jan 2016. They won't remove. I'm still working on a goodwill letter since phone calls didn't work. If not, it will fall off soon. 

The leftover negatives are big ones and I know they will lesson with time but I'm on a roll and I wish things would move faster!

I'm tempted to pay the $650 collection just to get it off my report but figure I will do one round of trying to get it deleted on my own before given in and paying.

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

As for the $650 medical bill —

Do you really need this off your credit report that badly?

 

You have some accounts marked as paid for less than the full amount.  That will hurt your credit for a while.  It is doubtful getting  the medical bill off your report will get you over 700. 
 

650 isn’t a bad score for someone reviving their finances.  You can still get credit.  The interest rates will be higher, but if you pay your cards monthly it doesn’t matter and your credit score will go back up eventually. 
 

The medical bill will fall off your report before then anyway. 
 

I have no issue with you disputing the DOFD.  It seems like you are considering paying this to get it off your report.  Unless you are trying to buy real estate, it probably isn’t worth it.  

[Bulldoger]

.

[Bulldoger]

2 hours ago, bigmistake22 said:

I'm tempted to pay the $650 collection just to get it off my report but figure I will do one round of trying to get it deleted on my own before given in and paying.

why not just make a 151 dollar payment towards the medical bill. That will drop balance to 499 and it will be removed in 2023. 

[bigmistake22]

5 hours ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

As for the $650 medical bill —

Do you really need this off your credit report that badly?

 

You have some accounts marked as paid for less than the full amount.  That will hurt your credit for a while.  It is doubtful getting  the medical bill off your report will get you over 700. 
 

650 isn’t a bad score for someone reviving their finances.  You can still get credit.  The interest rates will be higher, but if you pay your cards monthly it doesn’t matter and your credit score will go back up eventually. 
 

The medical bill will fall off your report before then anyway. 
 

I have no issue with you disputing the DOFD.  It seems like you are considering paying this to get it off your report.  Unless you are trying to buy real estate, it probably isn’t worth it.  

@BackFromTheDebt - Hey! 

Thanks for the feedback - you are always helpful! 

I guess I don't need it off my account that badly...I just want it off. Now that I see the damage it has done and how it might help me to have it removed (I paid a 2016 medical bill and my score jumped 16 points). I think, in the back of my mind, I'm also thinking: what if I need to go back to that PT office one day? Do I have a better chance of getting back in if I pay the bill? I'm trying to be patient and it helps to hear that I shouldn't worry too much. I am sure you are right - just let it be and fall off on it's own. It isn't too much longer. I might try and do the DOFD just so I feel like I have some control.I already screwed up and disputed it (before I found these boards) and it came back verified but now it was updated to show ALL the unpaid months through March 2022. Ouch.

Thanks for saying the 650 isn't terrible. I know that my score was up around 730 with minimal effort when I purchase our home 9 years ago...so, knowing it's going to be a while before I get back there is tough. I feel so out of control (which is ironic considering how long I kept my head in the sand about all this)

I do need more credit - I wasn't sure if I'd be eligible with a 650 and the recent charge offs. I am going to research and maybe, if I don't qualify yet, get a secured card so I can graduate to a better one in the future. 

Thanks again for the advice. It's helpful to know I'm not doing anything wrong by waiting on the medical bill.

[bigmistake22]

5 hours ago, Bulldoger said:

why not just make a 151 dollar payment towards the medical bill. That will drop balance to 499 and it will be removed in 2023. 

Thanks,, @Bulldoger! I wasn't sure if that is how it worked w the medical debt. I had asked that at some point but no one had a clear answer. The debt is expected to come off my CR in March 2023 anyway...that's less than a year. I'm going to sit on a bit before making any payment decisions. I had considered just paying to get rid of it but they won't settle at all (I understand why but some companies have settled my medical debt for 20-30%, depending on age)

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

16 hours ago, bigmistake22 said:

@BackFromTheDebt - Hey! 

Thanks for the feedback - you are always helpful! 

I guess I don't need it off my account that badly...I just want it off. Now that I see the damage it has done and how it might help me to have it removed (I paid a 2016 medical bill and my score jumped 16 points). I think, in the back of my mind, I'm also thinking: what if I need to go back to that PT office one day? Do I have a better chance of getting back in if I pay the bill? I'm trying to be patient and it helps to hear that I shouldn't worry too much. I am sure you are right - just let it be and fall off on it's own. It isn't too much longer. I might try and do the DOFD just so I feel like I have some control.I already screwed up and disputed it (before I found these boards) and it came back verified but now it was updated to show ALL the unpaid months through March 2022. Ouch.

Thanks for saying the 650 isn't terrible. I know that my score was up around 730 with minimal effort when I purchase our home 9 years ago...so, knowing it's going to be a while before I get back there is tough. I feel so out of control (which is ironic considering how long I kept my head in the sand about all this)

I do need more credit - I wasn't sure if I'd be eligible with a 650 and the recent charge offs. I am going to research and maybe, if I don't qualify yet, get a secured card so I can graduate to a better one in the future. 

Thanks again for the advice. It's helpful to know I'm not doing anything wrong by waiting on the medical bill.

Whether you need to settle the debt so you can go back to that PT office in the future is a different question.  This shows the complexity of debt settlement.  Every situation is unique. 
 

If you need to settle the debt to someday return to the PT office, settle it. 
 

If you need to settle the debt to buy a house, which doesn’t appear to be the case, settle it. 
 

If you want to settle the debt because these are good people who have treated you fairly and you feel a moral obligation to them, settle it. 
 

If this is within SOL and they are threatening a lawsuit, settle it. 
 

If you are taking about what is best for you financially and none of these apply, don’t settle.  
 

You need the solution that is best for you, not for Average Broke Dude. 

[bigmistake22]

2 hours ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

Whether you need to settle the debt so you can go back to that PT office in the future is a different question.  This shows the complexity of debt settlement.  Every situation is unique. 
 

If you need to settle the debt to someday return to the PT office, settle it. 
 

If you need to settle the debt to buy a house, which doesn’t appear to be the case, settle it. 
 

If you want to settle the debt because these are good people who have treated you fairly and you feel a moral obligation to them, settle it. 
 

If this is within SOL and they are threatening a lawsuit, settle it. 
 

If you are taking about what is best for you financially and none of these apply, don’t settle.  
 

You need the solution that is best for you, not for Average Broke Dude. 

Thank you - I needed to hear this! 

I am on the fence...I could really really use that $650 right now. I don't want to give it up but i feel like I want to settle b/c I may need to go back. The issue is, will they let me back if I burned them once already Hmm...

Thank you again. You have given me a lot to think about! I have some time, so I'm going to wait and focus on my student loan consolidation and see where things stand in a few weeks. So many balls in the wait...you all weren't joking when you said credit rebuilding was a slow process! 

[Bulldoger]

FYI, I don't know what PT means, If PT is a hospital or imaging center then thy will accept you for service if you have outstanding debt. But if PT is office practice or specialist it's been my experience they will not make appointment until you bring account current. 

[Clydesmom]

10 hours ago, Bulldoger said:

FYI, I don't know what PT means, If PT is a hospital or imaging center then thy will accept you for service if you have outstanding debt. But if PT is office practice or specialist it's been my experience they will not make appointment until you bring account current. 

PT is physical therapy which most likely is a private practice.  Most hospitals are too understaffed to do outpatient PT these days.

As for the "accepting you for service even if you have outstanding debt" not a chance for PT.  The ONLY time a patient is accepted at a hospital even with outstanding debt is when they present to the ER with a possible medical emergency.  The EMTALA law protects them as it requires the hospital to evaluate and treat until medically stable regardless of ability to pay.  If the care at the hospital is not a medical emergency (which PT never is) then they can turn the patient away until the debt is handled.  I have seen it done more times than I care to count.  My patients would arrive at the admissions office to get the paperwork done to have testing and be turned away because they had too high of a balance owed and my testing was not an emergency need.  The patients were always upset (well mostly some knew shrugged and left) but there was NO work around I could use to bypass admissions and do the test anyway.  

As you said private practice can and does turn patients away with an outstanding balance.  Due to the sheer number of patients who can't or won't pay what they owe they have been forced to take a hard line stance where as in the past they used to over look it.

[Clydesmom]

10 hours ago, bigmistake22 said:

i feel like I want to settle b/c I may need to go back. The issue is, will they let me back if I burned them once already Hmm...

Whether they will accept you as a patient again because you owe money is dependent on their policy on outstanding balances.  Some things to keep in mind:

• Even if they cannot report it or sue you doesn't mean they have to over look it and take you back for more care.  Much like cable and utilities they can require you to pay the outstanding balance regardless of it's age before doing more PT.
• find out what the policy is.  Some providers have a hard line stance of never taking patients back who defaulted on their obligation in the past even if they pay it.
• They may take you back with or without satisfying the balance but may require you to pay up front for the care and you wait for reimbursement from your insurance.

And just an FYI:  as a healthcare provider who has seen practices close due to having too many patients on the books with large and long outstanding balances who ignore all collection attempts it is really hypocritical to have taken the care, defaulted and to now say "i have the money but want to do something else".  When they did your PT they didn't say "I have the time but really want to do something else."  While everyone experiences money crunches and difficulty at some point your health care should not something you take for granted.  Keep in mind that when you and lots of other patients don't pay their part then that means providers don't get paid as much and can't pay their bills either.  There is a ripple effect.  I am not saying don't skip paying rent/mortgage or feeding kids but medical debt is one of the easiest to set up a payment plan (especially PT) and often will take as little as $5 a month.  Too many patients never bother to ask and simply walk away.

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

@Clydesmom  brings up some very important points about credit repair. 
 

I did a triage on my debts when I was pretty much drowning in debt.  I decided not to default on my USAA card, because 

A. it was a low interest card

B. They treated me fairly 

C. I wanted to preserve membership options for myself and my kids.  
 

That was an extremely important part of my triage.  It cost me more money in the short run, but was almost certainly better for me in the long run.  
 

Here is the thing about a payment plan — given the choice between getting no money and a small amount every month, the PT office will almost certainly take the small amount of money. 
 

The advantage of being in a payment plan — they will probably take you back even if you still owe money as long as you are current.  Some payment plans will automatically take $ from your bank account.  
 

The disadvantage is that it resets the SOL if you default mid plan. But they have shown they almost certainly won’t sue you.  

[bigmistake22]

18 hours ago, Clydesmom said:

PT is physical therapy which most likely is a private practice.  Most hospitals are too understaffed to do outpatient PT these days.

As for the "accepting you for service even if you have outstanding debt" not a chance for PT.  The ONLY time a patient is accepted at a hospital even with outstanding debt is when they present to the ER with a possible medical emergency.  The EMTALA law protects them as it requires the hospital to evaluate and treat until medically stable regardless of ability to pay.  If the care at the hospital is not a medical emergency (which PT never is) then they can turn the patient away until the debt is handled.  I have seen it done more times than I care to count.  My patients would arrive at the admissions office to get the paperwork done to have testing and be turned away because they had too high of a balance owed and my testing was not an emergency need.  The patients were always upset (well mostly some knew shrugged and left) but there was NO work around I could use to bypass admissions and do the test anyway.  

As you said private practice can and does turn patients away with an outstanding balance.  Due to the sheer number of patients who can't or won't pay what they owe they have been forced to take a hard line stance where as in the past they used to over look it.

Thanks for this feedback. I've had a nagging feeling about settling up (well, not really settling b/c they won't settle...I just mean: making good) since I posted. I mean, yes, I would love to be a patient there again but I was talking to my husband about it and it just felt wrong. The reason this bill was there in the first place was b/c there was an issue with insurance and we didn't know until after I had the care and, being in the middle of some life stuff, I lost track of the bill. When it showed up on my credit report I only vaguely remembered it.  I did pay all my other medical debts ...I know I need to do this one too. I just don't want to pay the full $650 now. I wonder if I can do $100 a month and get it done by the end of the year? 

 

[bigmistake22]

6 hours ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

@Clydesmom  brings up some very important points about credit repair. 
 

I did a triage on my debts when I was pretty much drowning in debt.  I decided not to default on my USAA card, because 

A. it was a low interest card

B. They treated me fairly 

C. I wanted to preserve membership options for myself and my kids.  
 

That was an extremely important part of my triage.  It cost me more money in the short run, but was almost certainly better for me in the long run.  
 

Here is the thing about a payment plan — given the choice between getting no money and a small amount every month, the PT office will almost certainly take the small amount of money. 
 

The advantage of being in a payment plan — they will probably take you back even if you still owe money as long as you are current.  Some payment plans will automatically take $ from your bank account.  
 

The disadvantage is that it resets the SOL if you default mid plan. But they have shown they almost certainly won’t sue you.  

 

Thanks, @BackFromTheDebt, @Bulldoger and @Clydesmom (and anyone else I missed). These posts were tugging at me...so I gave up decided to call the CA again to discuss the DOFD issue. I have proof that they are incorrect and, at the same time, I owe this company and I didn't feel good about just waiting (esp b/c I'm in the position I can do a payment plan or even pay it off right now)

I think/know that most of my issue was that they were wrong on the date and I wanted it fixed. I was still willing to pay it, I just wanted it off my account and I didn't want them to win! After calling 4 or 5 times and not able to get a human on the phone,  I thought about paying online, just to get the debt below $500 so, at the very least, it wouldn't be on my report I fig. I decided that could go sideways quickly so I didn't pay online - I tried one last time and got a woman who remembered me from last week when I called. 

I expressed my frustration that the PT (physical therapy company) will not update my DOFD and the CA can't do it. I've been going in circles with the billing office at the PT franchise and the CA. Last week I emailed the CA proof that the DOFD was in 2015 and they conveniently "forgot" to show that to the PT office and never called me back. It's been a week of hairpulling and the CA won't send me anything I asked for (like their bill that says 2016, not 2015 as a DOFD) 

I almost laughed when, after telling the woman I needed desperately wanted this debt off my credit report, she said that if I pay it now she will do a pay for delete so it won't stay on my report. I told her I am grateful for her kindness but that won't help me b/c #1: I can't PIF right now and #2: if I did, the debt would be off my report in July anyway b/c all paid medical debt is falling off. 

Anyway, to sum up...we went over the bills. Hers say 5/26/2016 and mine say 5/26/2015. She *finally* realized that the reason it keeps coming back verified is that whoever entered it must have been a typo b/c the blurry 5 looks like a 6. 

She felt terrible b/c she could feel my frustration (again, I think I just didn't want the CA to win. I was willing to pay once the mistake was corrected!) so she offered to delete my account if i set up a payment plan. I agreed. She asked if I could do $40 a month and I said I would do $100 (b/c I really don't want this debt hanging over my head for another year, even if it's not on the report). We set up automatic payments, I made my first one tonight, and she's submitting the request for deletion for the Jun 10th update and will send me a hard copy of the letter about the deletion on Monday. 

I'm so so happy! I really didn't want to battle debt collectors on a Friday night but I feel like this payment plan/deletion was a win-win for both of us.  Although, to be fair, I was planning on paying just enough to get the unpaid debt under $500 so it would be off my account in July anyway...but, for now, I'm happy!

This is my last collection! Everything is big heavy stuff that will stick around for a few years but, at minimum, my collections are clear and the clock is ticking in the right direction  Thank you again, everyone....a happy sigh of relief (even though for a debt that old, it probably won't boost my score that much). 

 

 

 

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

2 hours ago, bigmistake22 said:

Thanks for this feedback. I've had a nagging feeling about settling up (well, not really settling b/c they won't settle...I just mean: making good) since I posted. I mean, yes, I would love to be a patient there again but I was talking to my husband about it and it just felt wrong. The reason this bill was there in the first place was b/c there was an issue with insurance and we didn't know until after I had the care and, being in the middle of some life stuff, I lost track of the bill. When it showed up on my credit report I only vaguely remembered it.  I did pay all my other medical debts ...I know I need to do this one too. I just don't want to pay the full $650 now. I wonder if I can do $100 a month and get it done by the end of the year? 

 

They would probably even take less per month.  If you are comfortable with $100 a month, fine. 

[bigmistake22]

13 hours ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

They would probably even take less per month.  If you are comfortable with $100 a month, fine. 

They definitely were willing to take less per month. I just didn't want the debt hanging around any longer so I was willing to pay faster. I'm doing some side work to earn a little extra each month - if I get enough I'll just pay it and be done with it so I can officially cross it off my list!

In my office, I Have a wall of sticky notes with each big debt thing I'm dealing with. As I tackle one, I move it to the "done" side of things. Last night I moved this one from the "Deal with it" side to the "in-process" section. Seeing things visually move from one side of the wall to the other is *almost* as soon as seeing my credit score go up (nothing is as good as a credit increase haha!)

 

[BackFromTheDebt]

52 minutes ago, bigmistake22 said:

They definitely were willing to take less per month. I just didn't want the debt hanging around any longer so I was willing to pay faster. I'm doing some side work to earn a little extra each month - if I get enough I'll just pay it and be done with it so I can officially cross it off my list!

In my office, I Have a wall of sticky notes with each big debt thing I'm dealing with. As I tackle one, I move it to the "done" side of things. Last night I moved this one from the "Deal with it" side to the "in-process" section. Seeing things visually move from one side of the wall to the other is *almost* as soon as seeing my credit score go up (nothing is as good as a credit increase haha!)

 

You have a great system. 
 

I recognize that as a kanban board.  I don’t know if you came up with it yourself or just borrowed a good way of doing things.  
 

These sort of rituals can really help.  One guy I knew would gather his family around every time he paid off a debt and symbolically burn the debt.  
 

I would keep all the paperwork from my old cases because sometimes they would come back in some form.  Sometimes I used improper correspondence as a way to settle things.  In one situation my employment at a bank was held up until I could prove everything was settled.  I had to supply settlement agreements, letters from banks and attorneys, 1099 forms, etc.

 

Also, occasionally someone will try to collect a debt which has already been paid.  Proof of payment helps.