kjeanne

So, I tried calling CareCredit and they told me they couldn't remove the late payments on my credit report unless it was their error (of course they would say that!). So, I guess I'll have to mail a GW letter. Does anyone have a backdoor number for CareCredit? I tried calling this one for GEMB: 877-294-7541, but it was for Wal-Mart cards. I also requested a CLI w/ soft inquiry, which was denied. I'd really like the increase because I plan to use the card tomorrow at my dentist and don't want the high utilization. My income has increased substantially since I first got the card, and my credit is now "fair" or maybe "good." But, I don't want the hard inquiry...bummer. (i shopped around for student loans last fall, so i have quite a few inquiries) Also, while I was making phone calls, I called VS regarding a 30 day late from 12/2005. I know they don't hurt after 2 years, but it adds to my accounts that have had a past delinquency and I want as many of those removed (even 30 days late). Anyways, I spoke to a supervisor and he said "Our system only goes back for the last 2 years. So, call the credit reporting agency and dispute it, then they'll contact us and we won't have the files to verify it, so it will be removed. Do you need the number for the credit reporting agency?" I told him I wasn't disputing the accuracy of the charge, and he assured me that it would be removed because they don't keep records past 2 years. Should I believe this and dispute the 30 day late on my VS card? Thanks

I have a Care Credit card with a $1,500 credit limit, that I applied for (and used) 4.5 years ago. I had some problems with my first few payments (I was in college, and had moved/wasn't getting bill) and have a 90 day late from Dec 2005. Since then, I made every payment on time, and the card has had a 0 balance for about a year now. I'd like to use them for a dental procedure ($600-$800) soon. Do you think I could talk to them and say "I'd love to use my Care Credit card. Would you remove the 90 day late from my credit reports?" I'm not sure what my FICO is now. No lates within the last 2 years. Serious delinquencies are 90 day late (care credit) and 60 day late (express card) from 2005. A few student loan inquiries from last fall. About 30% total utilization. Credit has improved MUCH in the last year. Income has increased (to 50k). Any advice or contacts at Care Credit would be great. Thanks

I got a letter from the CA last week. What should I do now? Also, I'm still working with the doctor who ordered the lab tests to see if she can write off some of the charges because she sent the labwork to a lab doesn't accept my insurance. My insurance approved some of the charges, but can't pay, and on one of the bills she wrote off what the charges my insurance would have paid for. But, first I need to know how to handle the CA. Thanks for your help, WhyChat!

Hi, I did a lot of research into CMI before I sent a Debt Validation letter to them earlier this month. And before that disputed with the CRAs, all came back verified. I received a response from CMI without proper validation. Like many others I received a letter that asked ME to provide THEM with information to back my dispute: Dear...: Our office is in receipt of your letter requesting verification of the above-referenced account. Our client Comcast submitted this account to our office for collections on September 8, 2005. The disconnect date was August 6, 2005. This account has been updated as paid in full as of June 6, 2005, but an update has been sent to the three national credit bureaus advising that you dispute the account. If you are disputing this account, please provide us with a detailed explanation to help us understand your situation. Any documentation supporting your dispute would be helpful. If you beleive this account was opened fradulently, please provide our office with: 1) your notarized identity theft affadavit, which may be obtained from the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); 2) a copy of the police report; 3) a copy of your Social Security card; and 4) proof of residence at the time of the identity theft (e.g., a copy of your utility bill for that time period). You may also want to contact the fraud assistance departments with the three national credit bureaus. Their telephone numbers are as follows: TransUnion (1-800-680-7289); Experian (1-888-397-3742; Equifax (1-800-525-6285). Should you require any additional information, you may contact Credit Management, LP at 1-800-377-7723, or by mail at 4200 International Pkwy, Carrollton, TX 75007. Sincerely, Credit Management, LP--Account Resolution nm So....they didn't provide me with the proper validation that I requested. What is my next step? Are there samples of the next letter I send to them? I know I found all of this information at a different time, but can not seem to get an accurate search of the credit board forums when I search for CMI or Credit Management. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks! I also have an update. I was looking on Why Chats page, and then went the website for the Medical Billing Associates of America. I called one of the local advocates who was very helpful, and I definitely feel a little less stressed now. I'm waiting to hear back on the processing of my pre-existing condition audit, which should be less than 10 days from now. The advocate I called advised that I wait to hear what my insurance says about this pre-existing condition audit, then once I have a result, try to work with my insurance and the original creditor to get this debt reduced and paid, and that I should ignore the Collection Agency if they contact me. It just really freaks me out that 2 of my bills are in "collections" even though I haven't been contacted and they're not on my reports yet. But if there's anything I should do "now" I want to make sure I do it and handle the whole process correctly.

Oh, another thing. My boyfriend had a 750 credit score (not sure which bureau), and had never missed a payment, did carry much revolving balances etc. But then he had a 30 day late one of his student loans. It was more of a clerical error, and they told him it wouldn't be reported. But it was, and his score dropped 100 points! Ouch. But it was also because it was right after the fact. He did get them to remove it because it was an error on the lenders side, and his score went right back up.

So...I have the WORST health insurance in the country (i'm pretty sure). And since I've been with them, they haven't been able to approve any of claims because of the possibility of a pre-existing condition. So, they've been conducting a "pre-existing condition audit" for over a year now by sending out forms to my previous doctors. They got all the responses they needed by March 09, except one from a doctor I had seen July 08 (and that doctor's claim was also denied until the pre-existing condition audit was complete). So, I've been a middle-man, trying to get the doctor to call my insurance company or send back their letters, and then following up with the insurance company to see if they have received the information they needed to complete the audit. At the same time I was receiving every medical bill without a portion paid by my insurance, and kindly calling those accounts and updating them about my status (I would tell them my insurance needs to pay it, but they're working on completely a pre-existing condition audit, and the representitive would then tell me she'd put my account on hold). The only company I was having problems with was Sunrise Medical Laboratories. They sent me a bill every month, and every month I'd call and have the account put on hold. In July, I didn't receive any statements from them, so I called them today to check on the status of the accounts and was told they were sent to the CA on July 20. I have not been contacted by the CA yet. I'm very upset with Sunrise, but they told me I had to deal with the CA, pay off the debts, and then try to get my insurance to pay me back for the claim. But once I pay for these medical bills, I don't think I have much leverage when trying to negotiate with my insurance and with the providers. These 2 bills were originally $1700 (RIDICULOUS pricing for something that's done for free at Planned Parenthood) and I got the doctor to write off a few hundred so I now owe about $1200. But it's still ridiculous and my insurance should pay it, but how can I make them pay it once I pay it? Anyways, what should I do? Should I wait for the CA to contact me then send a DV letter to them? The collections aren't on my credit reports yet, should I wait until they are? I called Sunrise and they gave me the name (Paul Michaels), phone, and address of the CA, so should I send the DV letter now? Would the 1 - 2 punch strategy work for this? I'm so stressed about this because I've been working SOOO hard to improve my credit over the last 2 years, and just last night saw a 21pt increase in my TU score since 1 month ago. If it comes down to it, I will try to get a PFD with the CA, but I'd like to exercise all other options first, since I believe this charge was ridiculous in the first place. I was about to send out the DV today, but will wait until tomorrow to see if I get any advice from anyone. I'd LOVE anyone's input, but I want to get this taken care of as soon as possible. I just don't want to screw up and do the wrong thing. I have done a lot of research on collections ( I have a paid one with CMI from Comcast Cable ), but have never had a medical collection before, so I thought asking for advice might be the best way to speed up this process.

I'm in a similar situation. Even though I have a BS degree, I'm considered a 5th Yr Undergrad at Columbia University's Postbaccalaureate Studies program, so i can still get $12,500 in stafford loans for the year, but I still need $6k to make up for tuition and fees as a part-time student. I don't have great credit, but I'm working on it. From what I've heard the best options are Citi Assist loan (no good for me, though because debt to income needs to be under $45k and my student loans are higher than that), Wells Fargo (not sure of the name of the loan, but a little research on their website should help), Sallie Mae, and I also tried US Bank because I was approved by them my sophomore year of undergrad when I had little/bad credit. My TU (which sallie mae, wells fargo, and us bank pulled) is 650, and Wells Fargo said that was "okay" But they couldn't approve me because I have a paid collection from 3 yrs 10 months ago. Trying to get it removed, but not expecting great rates even if I do.

Becuase I want to use it how I seem fit. I dont need the school saying well his classes are only xx amount so only give him that amount. Its my money and should spent it anyway i want to as long as its something thats going towards my education. Thats why I am looking for a loan that doesnt get involved at all with the school. I once did the Education Maximizer through BOA for my first two years and now needed another loan. Education Maximizer went out of business becuase i dont see them around. I'm not sure exactly what your situation is, but most private loans let you borrow up to the cost of attendance which includes rent, transportation, food, misc, etc. in addition to tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Here in NYC I think that additional amount is at least $17000. Basically, if you borrow up to the cost of attendance (minus other loans including fed loans) you should be able to go to school without any additional income (you'd have to live pretty frugally). But, if you borrow the full cost of attendance, the school will give you the amount left after tuition, fees, health insurance, and dorms (but if you live off campus, you get that money for housing), and then you can use that how you see fit. Then you can always try to work a part-time job in addition to that.

I don't think I can specifically answer your question, but I can let you know what my reports look like. I have only 1 30 day late within the past 2 years and it's from a student loan. However, I also have a paid collection from 3 years 10 months ago, and a 60 day late and 90 day late from 3 years 8 months ago on credit cards. Those are the only negatives on my accounts (credit utilization is about 20%) and my TU is currently 650. The myFico explanation just states the number of accounts that have ever had delinquencies is a negative factor (and obviously how late the pmts were, and how long ago it happened). Also, I don't think the balance of your installment loans to the high credit affects the FICO much (the score simulator told me that my score could go up only 3 pts if I paid off my $30k in student loans), but obviously lenders can look at your installment debt when considering you. So, I have no idea what the answer to your question is, but I would think that a late payment is a late payment whether it's a credit card account or installment loan/student loan, etc.

I'm trying to get a Student Loan with them (private loan for $6000), and the last time I talked to them my TU score was 629. I do however have a paid collection from 3 years 9 months ago (CMI from Comcast/Time Warner Cable). They told me that my Credit was okay to get approved for a loan without a cosigner (no idea what interest rate they would give me), but they couldn't approve me because of the collection. I'm working on Debt Validation for the collection, because it seems to be my only chance at a student loan. Other factors....my total installment loans (student loans) are $30k, and my income only $45k. So...I say you have a much better chance of getting approved for a student loan. Hope this helps! I'm working on fixing up my credit, and have already raised my score 21 pts in less than a month (by paying down my revolving credit card accounts, and disputing an old account that was being reported twice)

Also on my credit history: Got a car loan from Chase September of 2007, paid off July 2008 I have about $30,000 in current student loan debt

I plan to begin taking classes this summer in a Certificate program (combines undergad and grad classes to prepare for grad school) at Columbia University. It's not a graduate program, so I can't get the Graduate PLUS Loans, and it's considered 5th Year Undergaduate status even though I have a bachelor's degree. So, I can get up to $12500/year through the Stafford Loan. But in order to be eligible for the Stafford loan, I need to be registered at least half-time. Fall and Spring tuition for half-time students is about $14000, so the Stafford Loan won't even cover tuition and fees for one year. Therefore I NEED a private loan to pay for some portion of my education. PS I'm set on this program, because I need to strengthen my Graduate School application, and completing the classes at Columbia with good grades will help tremendously, and I've already decided it's worth the cost in loans. I would prefer to be a full-time student, but that would mean a Cost of Attendance of about $50,000 I have about $5k in CC debt with a 70% debt to credit ratio. If I follow my budget, I should be able to pay that off in September, which might be soon enough for Fall Private Student Loans. My last missed payment was 30 days late in January 2008 I have a paid collection from Time Warner Cable (equipment) from April 2005 which my credit report said will be removed April 2010 When I checked my FICO in October of 2008, I had a slightly higher debt to credit ratio and my score was 577 (I think I just did Experian) Here are my questions: 1) Does anyone know how the $12500 of the Stafford Loans would be split up by semesters if I start this Summer? (would they give me $6000 for the summer, $3000 for Fall, and $3500 for Spring....or will it be more like 2500, 5000, and 5000....or do I have some say in it?) I have completed my FAFSA, but have not yet sat down with someone in the Student Financial center. The lady on the phone told me she thought it would be 3000, 3000, and 6000, but that doesn't really make sense to me. 2) Should I even TRY to get a private loan with my credit history? Is it at all likely that they'd approve like $36000? How about like $8000 if I continued to work and studied part-time? Citibank is a preferred lender of Columbia Univ. so that's probably what I'd try. 3) If I shouldn't try to get a private loan now, will I have a better chance in the Fall when my debt to credit ratio is below 30%? Or should I wait until after January when it's been 2 years since my last missed payment? Or should I wait until the collection is gone, as well? I really want to begin school sooner rather than later. 4) Should I attempt to get the negatives removed from my credit report? If so, any tips on how to do so? I believe the late payment was a student loan that I thought was in forbearance, and like I said the collection is from equipment that needed to be returned, which I happily did so once I realized I needed to. 5) I've noticed a lot of people show their past and present FICO scores in their signature. What service do you recommend for finding your FICO? THANKS!