NCO reports the same account multiple times

[FNY2009]

Hello all
I am so glad that I found this forum.
I just found out that I have 3 collections from my credit reports. What a shock! I really need your advice.

#1: two collections are from NCO financial systems for the same debt. For a very small debt, <100, NCO has reported twice to all 3 credit bearus to tank my score. On the report, both collections are listed under the name NCO FIN/99, however with differerent account assigned date. When I checked the creditor's address, there are two of them. One is NCO in Wilmington DE, another is NCO in Philadelphia, PA. Can they do this? They just circulate the same account within the company and report it for multiple times?
I also found from internet NCO is notorious. I would choose just to pay to get it removed, however I am afraid that they would not honor their word even if I get the Pay to Delete letter. Anybody can give me some advice?

#2. A very old collection opened in 2004 and reported in 2006. It's a medical bill. I did have service at that hospital before, but I thought all my bills have been paid off by insurance or myself. I haven't received any statement from the hospital nor letter from the collection agency about this debt, thus I am not aware of it until now. What should I do now? Should I just leave it (since it's so old) or to find out what it is and deal with it?

At last, can anybody tell me what CA, CRA stand for?
Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Trish]

Hi FNY. Welcome

For #1 Dispute them both with the CRAs. If it is a duplicate listing then at least one of them should fall off. You can even do a 1 2 punch if you wish.

For #2 You should read here. Start by sending out the medical dispute letter. (I would send this one separate from the dispute above so pick which one you would like to do first and then wait until the investigation is over before sending your next dispute.)
A lot of times, medical collections being reported are a mistake because insurance wasn't filed correctly or the healthcare provider failed to write off the remaining balance after insurance paid. So it may be fairly simple to remove.

And then for the acronyms.....read here. That should help you understand the lingo a little better.

[Trish]

Oh and p.s. don't forget to read Basic Step by Step Beginner's Guide to Credit Repair

You want to be sure and opt out and then update/delete personal info first before sending any disputes.

[FNY2009]

thank you, Trish. I was just reading the beginner's guide and have completed the OPT-OUT. This website is so helpful. I wish I found it eariler.

[FNY2009]

Trish, maybe it's a dumm question, can you tell me how to update/delete personal information with CRA? By calling them or I can do it online?

[Trish]

You can do it any way you want to but I actually prefer to do personal info by phone or online because it seems to get updated quicker.
One time I called EX to dispute addresses and it was updated and deleted by the next day. A lot of times if you dispute these things by mail they will take the FULL 30 days before you get your results.
I just like to get the personal stuff over with as quickly as possible so I can move on to the "regular" disputes.

[FNY2009]

So in order to update/delete my personal information, I should file dispute? I have at least two old addresses with each CRA, do I just call CRA to say that I want them removed because I don't live there anymore? Thanks again.

[Trish]

Yes, but just say you NEVER lived there. They have no way of knowing whether you did or not.....so just say it's incorrect.....not your address.

[FNY2009]

Originally Posted by Trish

Yes, but just say you NEVER lived there. They have no way of knowing whether you did or not.....so just say it's incorrect.....not your address.

Thanks so much, Trish. I am going to make call now.

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by FNY2009

Thanks so much, Trish. I am going to make call now.

I just did a delete of more personal info and one of my old,old,old,came back tied to a tradeline which now i'm going to have to find.Also after all this time i noticed eq has me 30 years younger then i am (no comments please).