So much info...where to start???

[Pbober]

Hello there. First of all, I want to thank everyone for the great forum. I have learned so much!!! I am getting married in a little less than a year. I figured its time to get my life together and start tackling my credit/debt. The problem is I still don't know where to start or have a action plan! Here is my situation: My credit is bad, I have about 10 accounts in from a while back (3-5 years) that have remain unpaid and probably been sold from one company to another. I also have two judgements...one from 05 and a tax lien from 98. All of these are legitimate. I don't have much money but want to start taking care of these accounts while repairing my credit (if possible). Where do I start? How do I go about handling this the best way for my credit future. Please help!!!

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by Pbober

Hello there. First of all, I want to thank everyone for the great forum. I have learned so much!!! I am getting married in a little less than a year. I figured its time to get my life together and start tackling my credit/debt. The problem is I still don't know where to start or have a action plan! Here is my situation: My credit is bad, I have about 10 accounts in from a while back (3-5 years) that have remain unpaid and probably been sold from one company to another. I also have two judgements...one from 05 and a tax lien from 98. All of these are legitimate. I don't have much money but want to start taking care of these accounts while repairing my credit (if possible). Where do I start? How do I go about handling this the best way for my credit future. Please help!!!

Start by getting your 3 credit reports don't get the 3-in-1 reports but each one by it's self.check for errors and see if it's yours or you were an au. Then dispute them with the cra's then a week later dispute with the oc's or the ca's you could try a few goodwill letters to see if they'll budge. Then go from there.

[chane]

Start here:

Introduction to Credit Repair

[Pbober]

Thanks for the quick response. I have received all of my credit reports and read all posts in the beginner's guide. Should I send validation letters to the CRA's first and then to the CA's after a week? Should I send seperate validation letters for each item? Can I ask for validation for all accounts or do just a few at a time? I have a CA that have multiple accounts on me...can I ask for validation for all of them? Thanks!

[chane]

Originally Posted by Pbober

Thanks for the quick response. I have received all of my credit reports and read all posts in the beginner's guide. Should I send validation letters to the CRA's first and then to the CA's after a week? Should I send seperate validation letters for each item? Can I ask for validation for all accounts or do just a few at a time? I have a CA that have multiple accounts on me...can I ask for validation for all of them? Thanks!

No.

1. Send a validation letter (DV letter) to the CA.

2. Send a verification letter (dispute letter) to the CRAs a week later.

Debt validation is for collection agencies - requesting validation on a debt.

Verification is for the credit bureaus - requesting an investigation on an account they are reporting on your credit report.

Many people confuse validation and verification. They are completely different. If you send a validation letter to a CRA or a verification letter to a CA they will wonder if you are smoking crack.

[Pbober]

Thanks! Do I send 1 letter for various accounts or seperate? Also, should I do a few at a time or all together? Thanks!

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by chane

No.

1. Send a validation letter (DV letter) to the CA.

2. Send a verification letter (dispute letter) to the CRAs a week later.

Debt validation is for collection agencies - requesting validation on a debt.

Verification is for the credit bureaus - requesting an investigation on an account they are reporting on your credit report.

Many people confuse validation and verification. They are completely different. If you send a validation letter to a CRA or a verification letter to a CA they will wonder if you are smoking crack.

Chane thanks.For some reason i always get one and two backwards maybe that's why i dont get some things removed.Those damn senior moments lol

[chane]

Originally Posted by Pbober

Thanks! Do I send 1 letter for various accounts or seperate? Also, should I do a few at a time or all together? Thanks!

For a DV, send 1 letter per CA.

For a dispute, you should send 1 letter to each CRA. I wouldn't dispute more than 5 accounts per letter. It all depends on how many accounts you have per credit report though. If you have 50 negative items on 1 report, you may want to dispute more than 5.

Wait for at least 30 days before disputing anything else - then dispute the next 5. Wait another 30 days, dispute the next round, etc. You may also want to send a method of verification letter between dispute too, if the items are not coming off.