lyfsabeach

That's the sad part - I need total knee replacement surgery on both knees - but can't get the til the heart gets under control - smh - so they don;t consider me bad off enuf for disability - my cardiologist says the heart issue is new (never had problems before) and says it may take a year to get it "normal" again - I want to work - I love my job - and I want to get these bills paid, you know? I did it, it's my responsibility, but I'm terrified that they won't work with me and will sue me like they seem to be threatening -

Long story - will try to condense - lots of credit cards - great credit rating, life was wonderful. Then illness hit - Im in a wheelchair due to Rheumatoid Arthritis (knees are bone-on-bone, can't walk, also diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. I do work from home as an independent contractor, but due to my arthritis and heart issues, I cant work the hours that I normally did. My income is decreasing rapidly. I am doing everything I can to stay afloat and make payments, but I have let some lapse - specifically Comenity Bank - six store cards - been late for 2 months now, and now have a total accrued debt with them of between $8,000 to $10,000. I have no vehicle, own no property, and am living in an apartment that i can barely afford for me and my son (who is basically my caretaker at this point). Comenity is calling nonstop and as much as I want to talk to them, i cant due to my breathing problems - get winded talking for too long. I had prepared a letter to email to them, but cannot find an email address anywhere - I want to make this right. I don't want to do bankruptcy - but all I can afford to pay them is $50 a month towards all 6 cards - doubt that they will accept that - yesterday's call, they left a message and demanded the name of my attorney before they move on to the next step. they are just calling at this point - only 1 message left so far, nothing has been mailed to me. Will they just sue me without trying to settle? Can they sue me even though I have nothing? I am so scared right now, not just because of this, but also my own health. Ive got medical bills up the wazoo because of all my hospital admissions and all the meds I'm on, and i got to bed every night wondering if it will be my last night alive - I am so scared - i cant handle all this right now. Suggestions, help, anything appreciated - don't know what else to do

Yup - I tried. Chevron (GEMB) reduced my CL from $1200 to $790. After two weeks, I tried for a CLI at the website and was denied because "not established at present CL" or something salamanderic to that effect. Have several GEMB cards, but Chevron is the only one that has been chopped down ... so far... Deb

Any idea if the CC reward certificates will still be honored? I have a CC Visa and have some reward certificates I've been holding onto for Christmas - hope CC still honors them - Deb

Since I haven't received my statement yet (it comes thru Checkfree), I have not seen this "change in terms"; however, here's the response I received when I asked them thru the website: Dear Online Customer, Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding your JCPenney account, and the opportunity to be of service to you. We recently made a billing date change and your payment due date will be 23 days after your account bills. Your due date will be approximately the 27th every month This information was sent recently with your statement. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. We appreciate you as a valued cardmember and hope you will continue to enjoy shopping in JCPenney Stores, jcpenney.com and Catalog. If you have any questions or if we may be of further assistance, please contact us via the Online Message Center or at the toll-free number below. Sincerely, C. Castro Customer Service 1-800-542-0800 Account is owned by GE Money Bank - Member FDIC Deb

So they changed your due date too - 7 days sooner just like mine. I guess that's a new thing then. Yeah, JCP is really good about credit limit increases - They just gave me a big one last month. I never really used the card too much in the beginning, but now that my boys are growing, they are going thru clothes at an incredible rate - and we found a great hairdresser there in the salon who always gives us such a great deal! Odd that I got the CLI with JCP, but the CLD with Chevron - Maybe Chevron was pissed that I had $400 unused credit - maybe they wanted that maxed out too...LOL

This is not a big deal, but I do find it interesting. I have several GEMB cards - QVC, Chevron, Wal-Mart, JC Penney. They are all pretty much maxed out and I pay a little more than the minimum each month. EXCEPT for Chevron - they had recently given me a CLI from $1000 to $1200. I had a balance of about $760 on it and two weeks ago, they took my CL down to $790.00 for "high utilization" on my credit report. Well, I waited for them to hit the other cards, knowing that if they took the CL down too far, I'd be over the limits. So my JC Penney statement closed on the 4th - normal closing date. My due date, which has ALWAYS been the 3rd of the month, has now been changed to the 27th of the month. They said they sent a notice with my latest statement that they are changing my billing date and now my bill is due within 23 days of the billing date (obviously is was 30 days before). Now this is not a huge deal, but it just makes me wonder if this is GEMB up to their tricks, or is just normal practice with what's going in with the economy right now... Has this happend to anyone else? Deb

Seeing as how I'm maxed out on all my GE cards, if they were to lower the CL on my remaining GE cards, that would make me over my limit. If that happens, can they start charging me over the limit fees? I wouldn't think so, as it is their fault, but I'm not sure - never been thru anything like that before. Deb

Got mine today too - Chevron - $1200CL/down to $790CL. I have a JCP card, Wal-Mart and QVC cards - those are still unchaged so I don't get it. According to this stupid letter, the "review" my credit history was the reason. So, why just the one account? I have a balance of $760 on my Chevron, so that leaves me open with $30 - Whoo Hoo! All my GE cards are pretty maxed out. Wonder what's going to happen to those? As a newly divorced mother of 2 teenagers, you had better believe I'm using credit cards. At this rate, I'm getting closer and closer to bankruptcy every day. One more letter like this and it will probably happen. Deb

anyone...anyone...anyone? LOL

I get all three reports from TrueCredit, but for some unknown reason, I can't see "all" the details from a particular creditor - in this case Equifax - unless I'm doing something wrong. So I requested my free credit report from Equifax and printed it out. OK - AMEX is listed as the oldest line of credit with Equifax - Opened 03/1989. Is showing up under Revolving Accounts - Closed Accounts. Complete details are: American Express - Opened: 03/1989 - Balance $1929 Past Due $0 past due Pays as agreed Credit Limit $100 Date reported 09/2008 Charge off amount - $0 Date closed - 11/1990 Date of Last Activity 09/2008 Activity Descripton Closed Type of Loan Credit Card Comments: Account closed by credit grantor Now there's an 81-month payment history going from 2001 to 2008 and starting in Dec 2001 and going thru July 2008 there's an * in each box - from looking at my other accounts, it seems that they are saying it was paid each of those months? WRONG!!!! I would like to send out the FOAD letter tomorrow, but not sure if what I have written is okay or not. I make reference to the account being opened in 1989, but their dunning letter to me (NCO) has no dates shown at all - not sure how to respond.

Yeah - CR shows open 3/1989 and last reported 9/2008 - no date of last activity or payment or whatever. Do I need to change something in the letter? this has been off my report for years now but "suddenly" it appears again. Today I get "the letter" from NCO and now I know why it's back on my report... Deb

Okay - this is my first time FOAD letter - yes, I am a FOAD virgin!!! LOL Any critical comments/suggested improvements? Applause? LOL Please note this is on my credit report (just appeared actually) but it not negative...yet - My CR shows the debt is from 1989 but this is not stated in the letter from the creditor...Will they wonder where I got this info? Not sure how to handle... October 15, 2008 NCO Financial Systems P.O. Box 4907 Trenton, NJ 08650 4907 Lyfsabeach address city, state, zip Certified Return Receipt Mail No.:______ Re: Inquiry dated October 9, 2008 Your file #: _____ Dear Sir or Madam: I received a letter from your office on October 15, 2008 over an alleged debt from 1989 with American Express. I have no knowledge about a past due amount owed to American Express. Under West Virginia State Code the subject account has a 5 year limit for filing any legal action or collection. The starting date of this statute of limitations being either the date of the last mutual activity, or the date of first default with the ORIGINAL CREDITOR of the subject account. The ORIGINAL CREDITOR being AMERICAN EXPRESS, which you stated in your dunning letter to me dated 10/9/2008. This notification is formal notice to you that any filing of such action by you, or your representatives or assigns, is therefore time barred. What you are attempting to do is clear, and continued collection activities, including reporting, verification or insertion of accounts, beyond their legal collection date, to any consumer credit reporting agency, may be considered extortion and/or fraud and subject to criminal as well as civil prosecution. Please note that proof of your receipt of this notice may be used by me or my legal representative in further action. Since this alleged debt is clearly past the legal time frame for continued collection activity, you will cease any further contact with me. You are not to sell, assign, or share any information about me or this alleged debt with anyone else. You are also to remove any items you may have placed on my credit reports. Any violation on your part of any of the aforementioned will result in a complaint being filed with the FTC. Lyfsabeach

Okay - this is my first time FOAD letter - yes, I am a FOAD virgin!!! LOL Any critical comments/suggested improvements? Applause? LOL October 15, 2008 NCO Financial Systems P.O. Box 4907 Trenton, NJ 08650 4907 Lyfsabeach address city, state, zip Certified Return Receipt Mail No.:______ Re: Inquiry dated October 9, 2008 Your file #: _____ Dear Sir or Madam: I received a letter from your office on October 15, 2008 over an alleged debt from 1989 with American Express. I have no knowledge about a past due amount owed to American Express. Under West Virginia State Code the subject account has a 5 year limit for filing any legal action or collection. The starting date of this statute of limitations being either the date of the last mutual activity, or the date of first default with the ORIGINAL CREDITOR of the subject account. The ORIGINAL CREDITOR being AMERICAN EXPRESS, which you stated in your dunning letter to me dated 10/9/2008. This notification is formal notice to you that any filing of such action by you, or your representatives or assigns, is therefore time barred. What you are attempting to do is clear, and continued collection activities, including reporting, verification or insertion of accounts, beyond their legal collection date, to any consumer credit reporting agency, may be considered extortion and/or fraud and subject to criminal as well as civil prosecution. Please note that proof of your receipt of this notice may be used by me or my legal representative in further action. Since this alleged debt is clearly past the legal time frame for continued collection activity, you will cease any further contact with me. You are not to sell, assign, or share any information about me or this alleged debt with anyone else. You are also to remove any items you may have placed on my credit reports. Any violation on your part of any of the aforementioned will result in a complaint being filed with the FTC. Lyfsabeach

Okay I lied - another question... I am typing the FOAD letter now. Nowhere on this letter does it state the date or age of this debt. However, I got that info off of my credit report...They obviously put it there/listed it with Equifax only so far - as it shows open date of 3/1989 and reported date of 9/2008 and I know for a fact that this has been off of my reports for a very long time. So how do I reference that in my FOAD letter? Also, since the FOAD letter tells them that they are time-barred from reporting the debt, but in this case they already have to Equifax, how do I add that in there? I'm just not sure how to incorporate this info into the letter... Thanks again! Deb