Did I screw this up/can I fix it?

[tomgofly]

HELP?

I had my report pulled and found 2 collection accounts. One I am investigating (it's medical that's been paid by insurance), but the other was an electric bill from another property that I owned for $114. Anyway, I called up the electric co. this afternoon and paid the amount due via phone check thinking it was the right thing to do. NOW I find this wonderfull site and see that there are ways to get the account deleted off my CR. is there anything I can do to rescue myself?

Maybe stop payment on the phone check?

Thanks,
T

[Trish]

For the electric bill:
The CA was reporting.......but you paid the OC?
Is that correct? If so, it may work out ok. How old was the debt?

For the first one, it's very possible it's just a mistake.
You can use the HIPAA process for that one.

[tomgofly]

On the electric, yes. It was opened 09/08 and reported 11/08. The CA was reporting (never got contacted by them) and the OC was paid yesterday via "e-check" on the phone. Still no charges on my checking acct today and I was planning on closing that checking acct anyway. I was thinking I could draw out my funds to "bounce" the e-check and get my carrot back (probably cost me $30 in NSF fees, but it's worth it if I can get the CRA acct. removed). OR... Should I just ask the OC nicely if they are planning on removing the CRA acct?

(The whole deal with the bill going to a CA was that the OC kept sending bills to the other properties address and my new tennants probably just tossed my notices. So I never got the "final" bill... At least that's my theory)

The first one IS a mistake. Short story long... I had an out of town emergency room proceedure. The OC filed the insurance wrong so it got delayed till they re-filed correctly, which they did. My insurance discounted it and paid in full the same month FFCC-Columbus reported the collections. I figure they just crossed in the mail and the OC or the CA got lazy about fixing it. On the HIPAA process, since I have the insurance statements on both filings, do I still need to send dispute letters to CRAs and HIPAA compliance officer or should I just contact the OC and see what they can do?

Thanks so very very much for your time and advice. It seems that "they" try to keep everything a secret. I don't know why, it seems kind of like gun control issues. If you out law guns (read credit reporting knowledge) only the outlaws will have them (bad debtors trying to "beat the system").

Anyway, Thanks!
-=Tom=-

[tomgofly]

Also, since I'm trying to fix my credit up... I have an older "public records" (08/2002) on a Indiana state tax lein. Will this go away in August? Should I just wait it out or is there anything I can do about it?

I tried some stupid tax software that led me to think it was paid and by the time I got the hint that it wasn't, Indiana had recorded it. I paid it immediately, but it was too late at the time.

I'm trying to buy another investment property and my credit score is really making it difficult in these trying times, so if it's sending a few letters I would be willing to do it.

Thanks,
-=Tom=-

[Trish]

Well, for the electric co.....I think it would be a good idea to call them up and ask them first. The thing is.......since it was a recent acct, it appears as though the collection account was only assigned (not sold). Since you paid the OC and not the CA, then really the CA has no right to report it. The collection account no longer exists......there should be nothing for them to report.
The only thing to worry about is if the OC will turn around and send the payment to the CA........then that kinda screws it up because the CA can then legitimately say they were paid and therefore have rights to report it.

So, yes.....what I would do is call the OC and ask them. If they just flat out say no, then let them know you will be stopping payment on the check and that you refuse to pay it until you get the itemized bill proving it's yours AND and agreement in writing that it will be removed from your CR.
If they try to tell you it will reflect as paid and should hurt your score that's BS......a paid collection is just as bad as unpaid collection (scorewise).


For the medical account, just start out with the medical dispute letter. That may get it to drop right there. If it doesn't then you would need to send the OC the "Letter to Original Healthcare Provider" with insert b.

Now on the lien, that one is so old it may just drop off by disputing it. Use a letter similar to the judgment dispute letter and just be sure to modify it.

I would highly recommend that you opt out and update/delete all personal information on your reports before doing the disputes.

Hope that helps.

[tomgofly]

Thanky so much Trish. I'll give them all a go and report back! Calling the electric company right now!

-=Tom=-

[tomgofly]

I Called the Elect. Co. and talked to customer support. I told her about finding the the collections account on my CR so I called in yesterday to pay. I asked her if that would be removed from my CR. She told me no, it would be reported to the CA as paid and would then be reported on my CR simply as paid. I told her that would not do well, as I thought it should be removed. I never received the final bill and the CA did not contact me about it. I asked her if I needed to stop payment on the e-check as i would need to verify the final bill. She told me that was my perogitive but I still owed the $114. Eventually, she transfered me to their credit department where I left a msg (being Saturday). Any thoughts on a letter that i might follow up on? Looks like I'll have to pull the e-check so I can use the PFD. Do you know if that works in Indiana?

Thanks
-=Tom=-

BTW I opted out about 10min after stumbling on the forums here Rock ON!

[Trish]

Ugh......that's too bad.
So then you can either stop the check (not sure about e-checks so you should call your bank) OR let it go through and then try disputing the account and hope they don't verify it.

If you are able to stop the check, then send the electric co a debt verification letter asking for an itemized bill. Then once you receive that send them a PFD letter (one that they would have to sign and return). Unfortunately restrictive endorsements do not hold up in Indiana but if you can get an agreement in writing, that would be just as good since it would be considered a binding contract.

Good luck......come back and keep us posted.