Emergency Negative TL help to rent Apartment before homeless

[Bluedawn]

I have been around this site for many moons. I was a member back when it started I think but recently stopped in to work on a few things and to see if I could find some advice on an issue.

 

I moved in with a friend a few months ago from Florida to Southern California. He offered me a place to stay so I had no need for a credit check. Well few months later he's selling his house and I go looking for an apartment and out of nowhere I find 2 bad trade lines on my credit report both from past apartments.

 

1. The first is mine that I had given my ex the money to go pay when we moved out (I can see that never happened) and I am for sure going to pay the fees for moving out but have questions. Since its on my credit and I need this off ASAP to rent an apartment does anyone have any advice on how to pay this and have it updated as paid or removed right away? I will be homeless before 30-60 days is up for it to show and the last apartment I looked at said that a receipt will not work, it has to show on my report as being paid before they will accept me.

 

2. This apartment was not there last time I applied for an apartment (the one above) It shows an original balance of (example) $400 then says current balance $500. I did live at the place where the collection is from but I never had a late payment and when I left I did not owe them anything. The debt never showed up on my credit report until recently which is odd since I was there in 2008/9. I think maybe it was a debt from a tenant that got reported to me. Not sure but the issue is I need a place to live ASAP and was considering paying it just to make it go away and so I can get in to an apartment before my roommate kicks me out when the house sells. I am down to weeks if not days and freaking out.

 

I have lost so much sleep over this I don't know where to start. I'm really upset that I can show them 20 years of perfect rental history never late once, I have 2 credit cards 3 and 4 years old perfect history with a 19% DTI, 3 student loans all current retired with guaranteed income and these 2 bad trade lines are stopping me from getting an apartment or any place that checks credit. Really really frustrating so if anyone can help me or point me in the right direction to get these off my credit ASAP it would be appreciated. Just paying them won't help me here that much.

 

 

[LKH]

ttt

[cashnocredit]

These are fairly old but they are apartment CAs and some places may not let you in as a result. Your credit is good other than that will help. Some places will charge you a larger advance payment if the state allows that. If states don't then landlords tend to be more picky. You may just have to look to find places that will take you. If you bring a credit report with you, you should be able to find out whether they will take you without wasting hard inqs.

[RedHairedLady]

Are you looking to rent from a private landlord or a property management company? You might have better luck renting from a small time landlord, who you can sit down with, and explain the situation to.

 

My husband and I have poor credit, and have been able to rent two houses, including our current one, from private landlords.

 

As cashnocredit said, if you offer a larger deposit, that might help, too. A relative of mine has awful credit, worse than mine, but a decent income. He was in a position recently of having to move quickly, and was able to rent a nice house by paying first and last month's rent, plus a security deposit.

[tmcgill]

As mentioned in the posts above, tell them about your situation upfront. Don't waste money paying application fees over and over again, only to get declined. I think apartments charge $35-$50 dollars to run your credit. Find a single owner residence and explain your situation.

[Bluedawn]

Unfotunately I have spent weeks trying to find something I can afford or in my price range and there is nothing out there for me except for maybe 2 or 3 that I have found. Yes, I do have to pay these since they are from apartments. I have not found anyone who will rent to me for this reason alone. Unfortunately, they use these dumb automated systems that tell them yes or no and they can not override this since its a corporate thing. I am stuck to income restricted places since I am disabled and can not afford a $1,600 a month 1 bedroom apartment. I live in Southern California and thats about the average amount for something in a place where I won't get robbed every day. I have a service dog and although yes it is not legal for anyone to refuse me residency because of her when it comes to people renting their rooms they just find another reason to say no. I have already went this rout to only be denied time and time again as soon as they find out I have a dog. They use excuses like room is filled or some other lame excuse.

 

In the end I have to pay these no matter what. I don't mind paying the one its my debt and I owe it. The other I'm sure is not mine but after doing some thinking back I know I may have had a small balance years ago but it was not this. And if I remember correctly the resin I never paid it was because it was bogus charges and I was fighting them. things like water bill I paid and they double charged me etc. So its not mine but something they tried to stick on me and well have now done.

 

I am just trying to find help in figuring out how to get these updated as paid, deleted right away when I pay them. Also it would be nice to find a way to negotiate them down since Ive got to pay them. I know they say to stay off the phone but in a situation like this I don't have much of a choice. Any tips on things to look out for while on the phone? My phone number is blocked on my iPhone, I have the block caller ID on so they won't get it. I don't mind them getting the new address I am moving anyways and don't have anything linking me here.

 

I have to get this done by tomorrow so at this point anything will help. Going to call them in the morning and go at it.

 

If I get a receipt that its paid can I send that to the CBR to get it updated faster?

 

Can I try and get an agreement they will update it right away if I pay?

 

Should I try "Pay for delete'?

 

Should I try to pay a reduced amount?

 

One has an original amount and then a current amount, Its not eval for them to add charges to the amount they got so I should not pay their new higher amount correct?

 

again anything will help. These have to be paid there is no way around it.

[terrig]

PFD

But you need to confirm that deleting it off your report also clears you out of whatever rental database they all use.

[Bluedawn]

Is there a way to get it updated whatever I do faster than 30 days?

 

 

and they are just using a credit report. she did it right in front of me handed me the print out and it showed -9 points for each. everything else was 0 or positive numbers that they used. I have a few medical bills but none of them were on the list. all below like $100 so heard they don't show up.

[Bluedawn]

Well not sure where to go. Apartment #1 that I do owe part of the money to refuses to do anything. They are refusing to negotiate or show anything other than Paid in full on my credit report. Collector #1 flat out hung up on me when I refused to pay him over the phone on the spot and in full. When I called back I spoke to a supposedly supervisor and could tell he wasn't one. I got him tongue twisted a few times. In the end he said its only hurting me. I tried telling him the TL is there and its already bad paying at this point and them marking it paid in full is only going to just say the negative was paid but still be a negative for many more years. He seem to not understand that or just play dumb.

 

Has anyone had any issues with apartment CA's refusing to work with you at all? Should I try the letter rout Validate, dispute, etc then try an offer or just say screw it pay them and pray for the best?

 

I hate this I really do. I'm a grown man and its nothing for me to tear up dealing with this. Such a shame they are like this.

[pjmaxwellian]

Just a thought, but any chance your last landlord will give you a positive reference letter, stating your on-time payment history, no problems with your dog, etc. and any of your other recent landlords if there are more? Might help, especially with private (not big company) landlords.

 

You might also make some calls to disability advocacy groups in the area. They might help find you a place that will accept a service dog.

Edited April 23, 2014 by pjmaxwellian

[bmfmustang]

Are you visually impaired?

If so look on www.nfb.com or www.afb.com.

These organizations are nationwide and can offer you assistance.

[Bluedawn]

Just a thought, but any chance your last landlord will give you a positive reference letter, stating your on-time payment history, no problems with your dog, etc. and any of your other recent landlords if there are more? Might help, especially with private (not big company) landlords.

 

You might also make some calls to disability advocacy groups in the area. They might help find you a place that will accept a service dog.

 

Yes I actually went in with a letter from him in hand before I even applied. They just set it to the side.

 

Well I got a hold of apt #2 and it seems that maybe it was an error in reporting. Like I had said at first I did not remember this bill and did not think it was mine. Well he told me the file shows closed, attorney, do not contact. I told him this was an old case in which I was fighting with the apartment company for charges that were not mine but was willing to settle it just to make it go away.

 

SHOCKER here but he told me I should send a letter and dispute the TL!! I didn't even say anything about that in the conversation. He told me that because of the status of the account odds are they won't confirm and it will fall off. We both seem to have agreed that the battle from years ago may have resulted in the apartment backing down. While on the call I started to recall me battling them. They were trying to bill me for stuff I had already paid for and I had sent them proof it was paid. Maybe they got it and closed the account with the creditor. It was only on the call but I'm going to get the letter out today and pray it falls off.

 

So going to dispute this one and just pay the other. I will be happy with that I think. Thank you guys for help.

[Bluedawn]

Are you visually impaired?

If so look on www.nfb.com or www.afb.com.

These organizations are nationwide and can offer you assistance.

I don't understand these links or what they are for? they are banks?