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Hi! 
I applied last week for a Citi Costco card.  My credit score at the time was 732 with Experian, which they use.  I was denied.  I had 2 inquiries.  One from refinancing my home and 1 from Samsung for a phone.   My debt ratio is 37%.  I have NO late payments in the last 7 years and have 11 open lines of credit.  I have a Citi Simplicity, Sears Shop your Way through Citi, Mobil and Shell both also through Citi.  None of my accounts are at the limit.  None have ever had a problem.
 
I received my denial letter today.  It says that I am being denied because of a past BK where Citi was involved.  Yes.  1992.  It says that my current accounts have many missed and late payments and that my account is now restricted.  WTH?  
Totally untrue! I checked my Experian report and there is no problem there.   Is it the BK in 1992?  That is NOT on my credit report! 
 
I cannot find a way to get through to Citi, dispute this and ask for reconsideration.  Help!!  Does anyone know of a way that I can actually speak to someone?  Also, what is the best way to ask for reconsideration?
 
Thanks for your help.
 
Pretty pissed in WA State!
JayBird
 
 
 
 
 
 

Am I correct that once sent to collections a medical debt can't show up on credit reports for 180 days? Is it also true that once PIF, medical collections have to be removed? long term, that's all I really care about. My reports have 0 collections and I plan on keeping it that way.
 
Background: Had to go to ER with (still) unknown medical issue back in Nov. I've been working in extreme pain since then. I have a HDHP with HSA so I hit my deductible and yearly out of pocket in 1 shot. They billed $XX,XXX. Insurance negotiated billing knocked it down into the high 4 figures, then insurance payments knocked my out of pocket down around a few grand. My HSA has around 40% of the total available. It is contributed to on a weekly basis. I tried to negotiate paying over time with my HSA but was turned down and told to get a loan. If I made very slightly less I would be eligible for financial assistance (actually paying $0 out of pocket) and/or Medicaid. Instead I pay around 20% of my gross income for health benefits. Anyway, that's not particularly relevant - I just think it's dumb they wont accept payments over time, even if I contribute and pay the IRS maximums from my HSA on a prorated basis.
 
So, it will soon be 120 days and they've threated with collections. I was scrambling thinking about sending them my entire HSA balance and putting the rest on credit cards, because I do not want my clean credit ruined for 7 years. But then I thought "Hmmmm. Weren't there some changes and extra protections when it comes to medical bills?" and I came across the info/assumptions in my 1st paragraph. I plan on paying it, I can pay it easily in 6 months, but paying in full by next week is going to be rough, especially since I still don't know what is wrong with me (have a followup with PCP next week, at least). 

Hi All,
There was a "guy" who came knocking on my door and wanted to leave some paperwork for me. My girlfriend said I was not home and asked him to leave, this guy threatened to come visit me at work etc. He came back a week later, and though our Ring camera I asked him to leave the paperwork underneath a mat - he did. The paperwork is a Summons to Answer.
 
First - I'm not quite sure if this is legal and authentic as I figured I have to be served this type of paperwork. I did some research, and this CA (Professional Finance Company), has a Summons to Answer with the local court for about 3 people a day everyday. Mine is due mid-April.
 
Story: Debt is 5 years old, the OC send me some invoices for 6 months and then I got one notice from Professional Finance Company that they are in possession of my debt, and that's when I last heard from them (and this showed as a collection with all three CRA).  The Summons to Answer is also requesting me to pay an interest charge Professional Finance Company has been charging on this debt as well (which I believe is not legal). The total with this interest charge is less that $1,000
 
Questions/Steps:
I started Why Chat's HIPAA dispute process, so far I've been able to OPT-OUT, get my credit reports, requested a new DL showing my new address for the address delete letters. I'm quite concerned that I might not have enough time to complete the whole process by my Summons to Answer due (I figured that if I was able to complete, my answer would have been a copy of the Certified Bank Order stating that this debt is not valid as it's been paid in full); not sure if my thinking is correct on this one. I'm quite concerned that what I do in terms on answering this Summons to Answer it will show as a judgment on my credit reports.  I'd like this to disappear when paid (I understand there is a process I can take when this will show as "Collection - Paid in Full" - I've been working really hard on trying to clean up my record and pay any debts that are valid.  
Thank you for any help! 

Hi!  My wife and I are refinancing our house to lock in the 2.35 rate.  She has 850 score and perfect credit and makes the Mula$$  Me, I make 1/2 that, did a personal BK in 2013 scores only about 680 and only $3K in debt with several cards and perfect history for the past 5 years.  We are both on the Deed.  Should I bother putting myself on the mortgage with her?  We are only doing a 15year and her income is sufficient to qualify so thats no worry.
 
Would it really help the Fico score much being on it?  Our previous mortgage is a flawless payment history (which we are both on)
 
 

Hi all,
 
There is a collection on my EX and TU reports (OC is Sprint)...in early 2020 it was owned by Enhanced Recovery Assoc, but after sending a DV they removed it and apparently sold it to AFNI, who has been reporting since December 2020. Just when I was about to send a letter asking them who in the heck they thought they were to be reporting on my credit without contacting me first, I received a letter from them dated 2/26/21. Problem is, it's not addressed to the "right" person. Without giving my actual name, it's the equivalent of if my name were Jane Williams-Jones...and the letter is addressed to Jane Will-Jones.
 
I have a DV letter all typed up, but my hesitancy in sending it lies in this...if they don't currently have my full legal name (but obviously have enough info to ding EX and TU) is there a way I can get them on that *without* disclosing to them my actual legal name?
 
In addition, they have listed an "on record until" date of June 2025 on EX and Aug 2025 on TU (no DOFD listed on either CR), which means they're trying to collect on something that I guess went delinquent sometime in 2018, when I still lived in NC. I've lived in GA since August 2019, and have no clue how they got my current address, unless it was somehow furnished by ERA. I do have in my DV draft a request for the DOFD, but if I've moved, how does this affect SOL? Also, is SOL calculated from when whatever 2-year Sprint contract they're saying I signed began, OR when the account went delinquent?
 
Thanks so much for your guidance.

Just to give folks an idea why it isn't a good idea to have 0 balances report on all your credit cards. I had one card reporting $800 which was paid and just reported 0. TU FICO 8 dropped from 822 to 802.  FICO scores don't like all your CCs reporting 0 balance.  OTOH, I don't pre-pay but I've been using Amex in the last few months and had Amex reporting 20k. Charge cards don't affect FICO scores. It was just paid and reported 0 balance. No change in FICO. Still at 802. Usually Verizon will show up on a CC but didn't this time. Fell through the cracks between closings.

I have 2 medical collections for 2 different providers being reported to Experian and TransUnion by the same CA and a 3rd collection with Equifax with a different CA.
 
I started the HIPAA dispute programs for all them with these results:
 
TransUnion:  both items were deleted Experian: both items were verified with a note to contact the CA for more info Equifax:  No Response at all and no deletion  
I started the HIPAA dispute program  for the Experian collections but skipped the 2nd step of Medical DV to the CA by mistake.  Instead, I  sent money order payments to both the OC's using the HIPAA letter and have copies of the deposited and canceled money orders from my bank.  The collections have not been deleted  and I haven't receive a response from the OC's at all.
 
Knowing the I missed the DV step with the CA, what should I do now to continue the process for getting the Experian entries deleted?
 
For the Equifax entry with no response, do I just start over again?
 
Thank you!

Please excuse my ignorance but correct me in the process. 
 
Isn’t this showing the credit bureaus “look here’s my signature” which results in signature comparison?
 
Obviously none of us here has worked for a credit bureau. How do we know that the credit bureau won’t save your driver license picture and compare for verification purposes at any given time?

I was wondering if I can remove my report from chex, since I need to wait 5 years for it to be removed....
just to be clear, nothing has been made by error here, I had a negative checking balance, I didn't pay it and the bank closed my checking account, but I paid the amount 4 month ago, and chex said it will take 5 years to be removed..., obviously right now I am facing some/almost huge limitations with all type of creditors even with a credit score of 795+
is this a Fair Credit Reporting Act?
What's the fastest way to remove them?!
 
Thanks a lot

We were foreclosed upon in September of 2018, and when combing over the documents I noticed the foreclosure attorney signed off stating I had been served in person by the sheriff. I was not even in town on the day of service, and the Sheriff's Foreclosure Notice Return document clearly states copies were left my husband. I am going to look for an attorney to file a Motion To Quash the foreclosure judgement as it is my understanding that a notarized Affidavit of Service means the attorney verifies all the documents are correct and in order - which they were not.
 
I know it is a long shot, but if there is an attorney from NC on the boards, I'd love to know how long the MTQ takes from filing the paperwork to the mark vanishing from our public record. We are hoping to apply for a mortgage in March and would love to know if this is a realistic timeline.
 
 
 
 
 
 

My TU score just took a 50pt dive
 
My original mortgage was in forbearance (was furloughed for several months due to Covid-19) and I had setup a repayment plan. I had made the "downpayment" they wanted to start the repayment plan and then I'd paid the first modified payment (5 more were left)
 
They then transferred the servicing of the loan to a new servicer and closed the original count and it's showing as Closed 30+ days late (at least....not sure the details but that's what the MyFico alert reads)
 
Is there any chance of submitting something to them to request goodwill?  My payment history is absolutely perfect except for this new one and it dinged pretty hard.  What would I even send to them?

Hi All,
 
After alerting them NUMEROUS times of my change of address, the absent minded, neglectful billing person  did not send my small medical bill to my new home and my account went to a collection agency on 12/31/20.
 
I always pay my bills on time, so I am worried about the impact this will have on my credit.  
 
If I pay my bill today 1/8/21 or or Monday, 1/11/21, will this impact my credit negatively? 
 
 

We have a medical collection that was posted August 2019.  What is the best way to go about this since it is a more recent collection. Do I still do the HIPAA dispute before the HiPAA letter process? I read the guide and this is what I understood from there and searching but just wanted to confirm.
 
Thank you so much for your help!

Hi,
 
I had a medical debt that I sent the HIPAA letter and western union  money order with payment  in full  to the OC. Debt is less than two years old, is still with a DC. I never received a response from the OC, forgot to detach the money order receipt and now an I’m the process of trying to track it through western Union. I do have the receipt from sending it certified mail with return reciept.  
 
Would  it be better if I just went up to the OC and just ASK if they cashed it? Or is it best to avoid contact with them and go through the research process with western Union. I am trying figure out if I can send the letter the DC that the amount is no longer due. So that I can get it off my credit report.  I sent the MO about 2 months ago.

I'm in charge of paying my mother's bills, as she now has dementia. I got lazy and ignored the first three bills they sent me. I got another dated 12/29/2020, with a due date by 1/13/2021. 
 
I then received a collection notice dated 1/4/21 from a local collection agency for the same total plus some interest. Weird that this arrived before even the due date on the most recent invoice from the provider.
 
I have always intended to pay this bill, and want to send a check for the full amount. I recall from reading this forum in the past that there's a letter I can send to the provider to tell them that they must accept my payment and that they may have violated HIPAA laws by sending to a collection agency. Can someone confirm that this is correct and direct me to a sample letter that I can send? 
 
I appreciate any assistance or feedback. Thank you. 

On 10/24 I initiated a tiny bill payment from Enneffseeyou to my US Bank FlexPerks card. Enneffseeyou mailed a check. Seven days later the payment still hasn't posted to my US Bank account.
 
On 10/24 I initiated a tiny bill payment from Huntington Bank to my Citi Hilton card. Huntington mailed a check. Seven days later the payment still hasn't posted to my Citi account.
 
On 10/7 I initiated a bill pay from Bank of America to one of our mortgage servicers, with an extra $XY,000 principal payment. The "deliver by" date prior to scheduling the payment showed 10/11 (two business days), but when the payment got saved the date changed to 10/13.
 
B of A mailed a check, even though my previous payment to the same company for a lower amount was sent electronically. The check didn't actually arrive until 10/15 (confirmed with the servicer), one day before a late payment would have been incurred.
 
I called Bank of America today, and was told that the payee determines how they will accept payments, and sometimes this varies by the amount of the payment.
 
The B of A rep, however, could not see if there were such thresholds, or even if this was actually the reason that they mailed a check for the larger amount. She suggested that if I call the servicer and inquire about how they accept payments from bill pay services, but she also mentioned that the servicer's CSRs probably won't know what I'm talking about.
 
This is just a rant, but the whole world has gone mad.
 
 
 

Hi everyone, 
 
We are looking to refinance and my wife's scores are mid 700's and mine are 640'ish.  We both have perfect payment history for 14+ years...no late payments ever on mtg, cars, credit cards etc.  She has her own cards and I have mine and we have a couple that are joint cards. She has lower utilization with her cards.  Not a lot lower but a little.
 
My total utilization I believe is around 63%.
 
  Balance Limit Util % CC1 377  $        750.00 50.27% CC2 0  $        500.00 0.00% CC3 1150  $     1,500.00 76.67% CC4 183  $        500.00 36.60% CC5 635  $        800.00 79.38% CC6 670  $        800.00 83.75% CC7 0  $        300.00 0.00% CC8 2400  $     3,000.00 80.00% CC9 1950  $     2,000.00 97.50% SC1 0  $     1,500.00 0.00% Total  $    7,365.00  $  11,650.00 63.22%  
 
I know getting under 49% is a good initial threshold to target.  We are actually going to do a HELOC to pay off all CC debit and a few other debts but we need my score to be at 680 at a minimum.  We can swing 1500-2000 to pay down some of my balances but I was wondering which specifically should I target?  I assume the highest balances should be targeted? Maybe spread out between CC8 & CC9?
 
If paid 1000 towards CC8 it would change that Util % to 47% and paying 1000 towards CC9 would then be 47.50% bringing overall utilization down to 46.05%.
 
My credit also has a car loan that had a $315 payment that we recently traded in on a lease but did the lease in my wife's name since her score was higher and we got a better money factor with her.  So my report is still showing the old car - we just traded last weekend so the CR has not updated. Is this likely to affect my score up or down?
 
Would this probably give me a 40pt bump?  I have tried for CLI but no go with those.
 
Thanks in advance
 
ZP

Anyone else have this happen? Haven't used in about a year they CLD'd me from 2000 to 1000 4 months ago, tried calling to restore CL they said no.  Macys.com shows my 1000 CL ... weird
 
Not worried just thought was odd. 

With ATM fee rebates?
 
Thank you!

Currently 
Live in South Carolina,  fico 8's 708,714,717. Credit card utilization 35%, late pays 6.5 yrs ago only thing holding score back.  Salary 114,300.
 
I'm not in a rush but when the time is right maybe 1 year or so would like to know best first actions, e.g. talk to mortgage broker for pre approval etc?
 
Im currently 61, Due to alot of bad decisions i didn't buy first home till 6 years ago, no mortgage,  promissory note with relative. Now life is heading in a good direction. Have know idea if it's a good idea to entertain moving to a nicer place. Or what things to consider.  I'll probably be working for a good 8 years if all is right with the world lol.  
 
I have 1.25 acres the double wide is 20 years old in decent condition.  One question is move to nicer area, or  maybe buy new modular /double wide on the existing property ? My ego wants me to buy new place would like 5 acres and a dwelling.  
 
I appreciate being able to post this y'all have been very helpful and it helps to get this in print instead of my brain.
 
Note the zesimate for my place and surrounding area has gone up quite a bit. 
 
Oh shoot one more thing I have a va loan benefit I've never used.

Hi guys,
 
I hope this is not going to affect me to much doing my refninancing, I was checking my fico.com account and I have a new collection! It turns out that it was a medical bill that I thought I had paid but there was a balance of $71, the collection agency is FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT CONTROL, I talked to someone in there and she said if I make payment they will request to delete it from the bureaus (which will take about 3 months). I asked her to put it in writing and she said the best they could do it put a line on the email
 
So basically she sent me an email with an attachment (the contents below), and a little note below the attachment that said "will be removed from credit once paid in full", will this be enforceable to have them delete if they don't follow thru with their promise to delete? I guess if they actually delete I can show a letter from the collection agency to the bank that the mark has been requested to be deleted? the email is from ann@ffcc.com at least it's a company email.
 
A DEBT COLLECTION COMPANY - NOT A CREDIT BUREAU - NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT Jan 14, 2021 #XXXYYYZZZ #XXXYYYZZZ/1# "My name", "My Address"  XXXYYYZZZ Creditor Regarding               Amt Owed Dr. WHO MD PC        71.72   THE ABOVE LISTED ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN PLACED WITH OUR OFFICE FOR COLLECTION PLEASE CONTACT: ANN OWENS THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. UNLESS YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE THAT YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THIS DEBT OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, THIS OFFICE WILL ASSUME THIS DEBT IS VALID. IF YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE THAT YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THIS DEBT, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, THIS OFFICE WILL OBTAIN VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT OR OBTAIN A COPY OF A JUDGEMENT AND MAIL YOU A COPY OF SUCH JUDGEMENT OR VERIFICATION. IF YOU REQUEST THIS OFFICE IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, THIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR, IF DIFFERENT THAN THE CURRENT CREDITOR.THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. TO AVOID ERRORS, PLEASE MAKE ALL PAYMENTS PAYABLE TO FFCC OR TO THE CREDITOR LISTED ABOVE AND MAIL TO THIS OFFICE. INCLUDE YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER LISTED ABOVE ON YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. YOU MAY ALSO PAY ONLINE AT WWW.FFCC.COM.

Questions that make no sense...

http://mortgagesarememberlicious.com
 
Discuss.
 

Hi all!  Not sure which board to put this is, Admins & Mods please feel free to move where you deem appropriate. 🙂
 
I am thinking (vacillating lol) about making NFCU my checking account for my wife and I.  I know they are *excellent* for credit, but how about for checking?
 
I like them because they seem to have a reasonably large enough free ATM footprint, and I read somewhere that they can ATM Fee Rebate up to $10 for ATMs outside of their network. (I have to find out how to sign up for this.)
 
How is their customer service?  How is their security against hacks?  How is their willingness to solve problems?  What about their website uptime? (I have never noticed a downtime issue with their website, but maybe you have?)
 
Thank you for your insights!

This is YOUR year.  Pursue quality and do not settle!
 
No useless store cards, no fee sucker/subprime credit report stains (Credit One, First PREMIER, etc.), no 99% LTV mortgages with nothing in savings, no 72+ month auto loans.  
 
When it comes to credit and finances, planning and impulse control will serve you well over the long term.  As you evaluate your credit options for 2021, please look several steps ahead and decide if you'll be happy with this year's decisions 2-5 years (or longer) from now.
 
Happy New Year, everyone!