Order of attacking negatives - please critique my strategy

[tweak]

I have 9 negatives on my reports, mostly from 2009. My near-term goal is to have clean reports by the end of 2015 for an employer background check. (Rebuilding credit is a secondary goal until that time.) I have not disputed any of these tradelines yet, because I'm still inside SOL (GA = 6 years, Amex v. Hill). I've opted out and removed old addresses (still working on usual EX problem).

 

From what I've read, most people would attack these tradelines below in the following order: tax lien -> then COs -> medical debt last.

 

- Why do people suggest doing WhyChat HIPPA last?

(Is it only because potential new creditors view medical debt as less negative than other debt? Or does HIPPA process get you in "special handling" at CRAs?)

- Has anyone removed a bad PR, only to find that your cleaner report awakened a sleeping bear? (your Collection Score improved)

- Please feel free to offer advice or criticisms of my "Proposed order of attack" below.

 

Thanks! -tweak

 

Reporting to CRAs:

Federal Tax Lien, unpaid, $30k, Filed 03/2010

 

CO#1, sold, $3.5k, DOFD 07/2009 (correctly reports $0 balance)

CO#2, unpaid, $5k, DOFD 09/2009

CO#3, unpaid, $5k, DOFD 07/2009

 

5 Medical CAs, unpaid, total $3.5k, DOFDs 08/2009 - 12/2009

 

My proposed order of attack:

NOW:

5 Medical CAs - WhyChat HIPPA

(LexisNexis only - delete tax lien)

09/2015 - I'm out of lawsuit SOL

delete Tax Lien from CRAs (it is already withdrawn by IRS)

attack COs

jack attack CRAs

guerilla/CYA or 623 to OCs

early SOL disputes

start rebuilding credit

obsolete disputes - any remaining COs

 

My rationale:

- I don't want to attack the COs within SOL - two OCs still own $5k each.

- CO#1 and CO#2 are both BOA. So I can't attack the sold one (07/2009) until the unpaid one is out of SOL (09/2009).

- BOA still pulls my reports several times a year, but hasn't updated the unpaid CO#2 since 08/2010 (sleeping dog).

- BOA occasionally sues as OC.

 

- The 5 medical collections are the majority of my negative tradelines, and I can pay.

- The medical would be the last to age off my reports (12/2016).

- I don't believe the medical OCs would sue me.

 

- My tax lien is the worst tradeline - still reporting as unpaid.

- But I already have an IRS withdrawal of the lien and official copies from the courthouse. So I can get it deleted at any time.

- I believe that the "unpaid" tax lien has lowered my "collection score", and dissuaded CO#2 and CO#3 from suing me.

- So it is to my advantage to leave the tax lien on my reports until SOL has passed (09/2015).

 

- I don't want to add new rebuilding tradelines until COs are out of SOL (in 09/2015) - collection score / don't wake the bear.

- I got a car loan in 11/2011. Within a month, BOA woke up and sold CO#1 to a JDB. JDB sued me in 11/2013, I hired an atty, dismissed with prejudice, JDB deleted.

- I don't know why BOA sold CO#1 but kept CO#2 - otherwise nearly identical accounts.

 

 

[Platystemon]

I'm a little surprised ... I don't think I've ever read that Medical should be done last. It should be done on its own, though. No disputing other items while working on medical debt.

I could be wrong here, so wait for others to chime in ... but I'm thinking you're good to go with your plan.

[JayB27]

Start with medical.

 

Create a thread in the medical forum for Why Chat, he will give specific advice for your situation.