So Im finally finished done with Paying Credit Cards...

[Savingmonster]

I had 4 cards at the beginning of the year totaling about 14 or 15 grand in total...

Im not boasting, but I don't have anyone to talk to about stuff like this , who can actually relate.

I've been on here reading a lot of post and I have been inspired by a lot of you guys on here.

I am very happy to say, I finally paid off my last one this month which was a little over 3 grand. I am done with credit cards for the rest of my life. I notice my Credit rating jumped from 350 to 730 or something, so it went from "Poor" to "Good", which is a big accomplishment to me.

I have one payment, I think around 2 thousand but thats in collections for a few years now.

These people have been stalking my poor grandma (since I am now out on my own and they can't contact me).. i am willing to pay that off, but do you guys think I can negotiate something smaller, say $1000 if I pay it off in one lump sum? I don't want to pay that off at all, simply because it was not my fault (long story) , but I came to the conclusion that I must.

The only thing that I have to worry about now is setting up payments for my school loans, which I am not too worried about, I can take my time with that. The credit Cards ARE SIMPLY EVIL AND HOUNDING!! and it had to go before anything else.

[Broken Arrow]

That's a tremendous achievement, so feel free to boast away!

Yes, it's good to hear you can put all that behind you now.

[creditcardfree]

Congratulations on the credit card payoffs. It sounds like you worked your tail off!!

As far as the collections, make sure to get in writing the amount they agree to settle for before you send the payment. Not sure on what to offer as I've never had to negotiate before. Good luck. It will feel just as good to get that one off your back as it did these credit cards.

[Savingmonster]

Originally Posted by creditcardfree

Congratulations on the credit card payoffs. It sounds like you worked your tail off!!

As far as the collections, make sure to get in writing the amount they agree to settle for before you send the payment. Not sure on what to offer as I've never had to negotiate before. Good luck. It will feel just as good to get that one off your back as it did these credit cards.

Thanks, it was a lot of work, It really takes a lot of dedication to pay off this money, it really hurts lol.

But once you pay them off, it's a feeling of you can conquer anything. It's crazy..

[genmed]

Great job! You should feel proud of yourself, it takes effort and is a big achievement.

[Savingmonster]

thanks guys, I feel like I can Wrestle a Giant right now .


Any ideas on dealing with that "lawfirm" that keeps calling. What are the chances they will accept $1000 bucks or less?

[Ima saver]

Good going on your part. I would talk to them and ask what they would accept and like it was said, get it in writing. Tell them to mail it to you and you will send them a check to settle.

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by Savingmonster

thanks guys, I feel like I can Wrestle a Giant right now .


Any ideas on dealing with that "lawfirm" that keeps calling. What are the chances they will accept $1000 bucks or less?

Go get'em.

First of all, make the law firm "validate" the debt. Send them a letter demanding that they prove they have the right to collect that debt, and how the amount was calculated.

Start by offering them 25% of what they say you owe ($500). They'll scream bloody murder, but you'll end up somewhere between there and $1,000. As the poster below said, get it in writing from them that they've agreed to accept that amount AND that they will mark your credit reports "paid as agreed" instead of "paid in collection."

When you do pay, do not send a personal check or give them your bank account number. Send a money order.

Again, great job, we are all very happy for you!!

[HalMd]

Great job. With your next paycheck, pay cash for a steak and enjoy it.

[sparkysgirl]

way to go!! such an inspiration. I'm working on it but look forward to be in your shoes!! enjoy that steak!!

[scfr]

You have every right to boast. What an accomplishment!

[humandraydel]

I would just like to point out that there are times when paying off a very old debt will actually hurt your credit score. The impact of an account in collection will decrease as it gets older and when you pay it, it can sort of make the debt more "current"

Just something to ponder. It'll disappear from your credit report after 7 years anyway (right?)....so has it been almost that long?

Oh, but otherwise, CONGRATS!

[PRICEPLUS]

Savingmonster, ain't it a grand feeling to be able to tell the CC people to go to blazes. Congratulations on your achievenment! Good luck with the 2000 in collections!

[PrincessPerky]

congrats!

as to the debt that was not your fault..if you can legally prove it you can try, but the cost may be higher than paying (emotionally if not monetarily) only you would know that from you details...

But regardless I would not ignore it and let them pester gma.

and ditto the 'in writing'

[Savingmonster]

Thanks a lot for all the praises.
I am soaking it all up


For those that are curious as to why i said it was my fault:

Here is the short story:

I had a girlfriend, we were living together for about 4 years. She just went crazy and used some of my cards and ordered another on the net using my SS# and she put her self down as a second card holder.

For months, I was like, "I never ordered this card" and never blamed her or made any accusations, but I finally got her to admit it was her and of course, I promptly dumped her and moved on. Feel like such a fool, but thats life, you LIVE and you LEARN and don't make the same mistakes twice, that my THEME moving forward.

While all this was going on, I sent letters to those credit agencies, etc, filed police reports, etc. This is a very daunting process by the way.

When I finally came to the conclusion it was her doing all this damage, I said, "F it, this is a loss and I have to pay for this" ... I just took it as a Loss. I am not the type to fight fire with fire. I beleive people like her, someone else with deal with it. Im a firm believer of what goes around comes around. Charging her with fraud is too long of a process and I just needed to get away from her and move on.

So thats the short Story, When I was in 15000 dollars in CC debt, atleast 5-7 k of that was hers. This 2000 thats in collection is the only one that really really really makes me sick for some strange reason. But it will be handled none the less.

Im very fortunate that I have a respectable credit score after all of this. From Very Poor to Good?!!!! Im and so thrilled and friggin lucky.

[vishenda]

CHEERS!!!!

A great year ender achievement! And a new year starter!

[Savingmonster]

Originally Posted by vishenda

CHEERS!!!!

A great year ender achievement! And a new year starter!

thanks, I am really looking forward to 2007 thats for sure, I will reward myself with a big trip to the west Indies (NO CREDIT CARDS BEING USED FOR THAT TRIP)

[MonkeyMama]

Congrats!!!!

[Broken Arrow]

SavingMonster, that's quite a story. Mine is similar, and believe me, I completely understand your rationale. Suffice to say, I'm not getting mixed up with anymore financially irresponsible females again. Ever.

[Savingmonster]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

SavingMonster, that's quite a story. Mine is similar, and believe me, I completely understand your rationale. Suffice to say, I'm not getting mixed up with anymore financially irresponsible females again. Ever.

Yep, thats the worse. It could make you or Break you.