My boyfriend and I have been house hunting in the last couple of months and in doing so have filled out applications that include credit checks. Shockingly, I'm finding all kinds of debts on my credit report that I do not recognize, the most alarming being a $1400 Chase credit card debt (I've never had a regular credit card in my life, just a JCPenney card that I paid off years ago). I expected my score to be less than sparkling, considering I had a car repossessed 5 or so years ago (it's paid off, I settled on it) but it is much worse than I thought and I believe it is mostly because of this Chase debt and lots of other small $12-100 debts that I cannot identify. How do I go about disputing these debts or digging deeper to find out where the other debts are from, if they are in fact valid? My credit score is sort of keeping me from getting a new place, or at least requiring a cosigner.
There's also the question/issue of a couple medical bills that I've been hassled for a few years about. There's a law firm out of Topeka, KS that's been dragging me into "court" (a gathering of debtors in a community building) over these bills every few months over the last couple of years. I missed a date once because of work (Topeka is a few hours from here) and a warrant was issued for my arrest. I had to go to Topeka and post bond or bail or whatever on myself so I wouldn't get randomly arrested and jailed. They've also cleaned out my bank account a couple of times, right after a paycheck was deposited, leaving me with $0 and bills to pay. The last time they emptied my account, they over drafted $100+, leaving my account negative when I'd just been paid. I closed my account with that negative balance, so I'm sure that will come back on me too. I haven't had a bank account since then because I'm afraid they'll take my money again. I've used only prepaid Visas and cash for probably 3-4 years. The last "court date" I had was in June and at that point they notified me there's an active garnishment on my account meaning that payment plans are not an option anymore. However, they're not taking anything out of my checks, and they know where I work because I told them where I work. They still call me daily trying to collect, but I don't even know if the debt is valid. I got a rep to tell me what hospital it's from one time and I remember the hospital but don't remember going there in many years. I truly don't think they're valid. The law firm gives me a different total every time I talk to them but last time I asked they said I owe around $700 total, but it's always a range from $600-900. I don't know enough about this stuff and have so much going on that since they haven't given me another court date, I'm just ignoring all contact to focus on moving, work, life etc. but I realize that doesn't fix the problem and I'd like to resolve it. I want to fight back but don't know how. They've already taken plenty from me and I've volunteered more outside of that, how can I possibly keep owing them more and they can't tell me where or why? Help! D:
alexlovesaudio5 karma
My boyfriend and I have been house hunting in the last couple of months and in doing so have filled out applications that include credit checks. Shockingly, I'm finding all kinds of debts on my credit report that I do not recognize, the most alarming being a $1400 Chase credit card debt (I've never had a regular credit card in my life, just a JCPenney card that I paid off years ago). I expected my score to be less than sparkling, considering I had a car repossessed 5 or so years ago (it's paid off, I settled on it) but it is much worse than I thought and I believe it is mostly because of this Chase debt and lots of other small $12-100 debts that I cannot identify. How do I go about disputing these debts or digging deeper to find out where the other debts are from, if they are in fact valid? My credit score is sort of keeping me from getting a new place, or at least requiring a cosigner.
There's also the question/issue of a couple medical bills that I've been hassled for a few years about. There's a law firm out of Topeka, KS that's been dragging me into "court" (a gathering of debtors in a community building) over these bills every few months over the last couple of years. I missed a date once because of work (Topeka is a few hours from here) and a warrant was issued for my arrest. I had to go to Topeka and post bond or bail or whatever on myself so I wouldn't get randomly arrested and jailed. They've also cleaned out my bank account a couple of times, right after a paycheck was deposited, leaving me with $0 and bills to pay. The last time they emptied my account, they over drafted $100+, leaving my account negative when I'd just been paid. I closed my account with that negative balance, so I'm sure that will come back on me too. I haven't had a bank account since then because I'm afraid they'll take my money again. I've used only prepaid Visas and cash for probably 3-4 years. The last "court date" I had was in June and at that point they notified me there's an active garnishment on my account meaning that payment plans are not an option anymore. However, they're not taking anything out of my checks, and they know where I work because I told them where I work. They still call me daily trying to collect, but I don't even know if the debt is valid. I got a rep to tell me what hospital it's from one time and I remember the hospital but don't remember going there in many years. I truly don't think they're valid. The law firm gives me a different total every time I talk to them but last time I asked they said I owe around $700 total, but it's always a range from $600-900. I don't know enough about this stuff and have so much going on that since they haven't given me another court date, I'm just ignoring all contact to focus on moving, work, life etc. but I realize that doesn't fix the problem and I'd like to resolve it. I want to fight back but don't know how. They've already taken plenty from me and I've volunteered more outside of that, how can I possibly keep owing them more and they can't tell me where or why? Help! D:
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