So I had a
$270 collection on my credit report. I did a
lengthy amount of research as to how to go about removing the negative mark from my credit report.
I recently opened a letter from a new collection agency (that I haven't dealt with previously) which says the following:
October 2, 2012
RE: Con Edison
Principal Due: $270.84
$.00 has been paid since placement
Dear Fefferkorn:
Your delinquent account has been turned over to this collection agency.
You are hereby notified that I.C. System will forward the account information to the national credit reporting agencies in your creditors name if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligations. Of course, you will have the right then, as you do now, to inspect your credit file in accordance with federal law. I.C. System will not submit the account information to the national credit repoting agencies until the expiration of the time period described in the notice below.
Tear off bottom portion of this letter and return it with your payment.
If you would like to make a payment arrangement, or settle your account for 50% of the balance, please call us at 866/389-2027. If you choose to settle your account for 50% of the balance, Con Edison will update your credit record that you paid the account in full.
We are a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any imformation obtained will be used for that purpose.
Sincerely,
Beth Brown
Manager
NOTICE
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. Etc..etc..
I Immediately logged into CreditKarma and, lo and behold, the negative report from the previous collection agency (VAN RU) is gone, GONE!
First of all, I would like to know if I can rely on CreditKarma for this, also I don't know if CreditKarma reflects all 3 credit bureaus... So can someone please tell me a reliable source where I can check my 3 credit reports from all 3 agencies for accurate information specifically about this issue to see if the negative report is REALLY gone?
Also, does anyone have advice as to how to follow this up quickly before the 30 days are up and make sure this does not get reported again? I'm not sure, based on the above mentioned letter, if the collection agency actually owns the debt or they are doing the job on behalf of ConEdison.. I don't really want to PUTPAC the CA as I hear it's not a good thing to do.
Anyone have any advice as to how to proceed?
I'm ready to pay 100% of the debt if I have the certainty that this won't get reported. If I can pay 50% or less, better
(or is that some kind of trick from the CA? Weird that they just offer 50% off just like that without first hearing my response...)
Please please, let me hear you!
