I would like to know the answer too. Anyone here know what is the answer to your question. I'll do some research in Google and get back to you if I bump into an answer. You should email the people at Lending Tree as they probably could give you help..

It just showed up on my report today and I called them , so, so far it is unpaid ..............

But i'm willing to pay it to resolve the issue before it is 30 , 60, or 90 days old..

Don't call them anymore. Someone's tagline here reads "What can you say to me on the phone that you can't put in writing?" Stick to that. Get everything in writing..

Send them a validation letter, and see if they rack up violations. Collection accounts don't get 30, 60, or 90 day lates added to them, the damage is done by their mere presence. Time is actually on your side right now..

:)..

Alphonso, go ahead with the validation as requested by waailien, and do NOT pay them ONE CENT unless you have an agreement in writing that they will delete it upon receiving payment..

Before thinking about paying anything, make them validate it. Send your validation letter certified mail and fax it if you can, retaining fax transmission sheet for proof that it was received. good luck..

Thanks you Guys ...................... there is one small detail that I left out .................... The collection is for an old apartment and i'm trying to get a house. My Lending Tree loan officer just wants it paid to get the loan. But I want it GOne..

Ok, at this point it is worthwhile to weigh the cost of the debt against the value received by paying it..

Of course, if you do decide to pay it, you want to get ALL of the value that you can out of that payment. You should definitely negotiate for a DELETION, and also negotiate the amount due down. The CA is like a street vendor, only slimier, they will negotiate....

You are in a significantly more advantageous position to negotiate if the debt is past the statute of limitations. It sounds like a written contract. Do you know the SOL in your state? Are you past it?..

Errrg. I'm guessing the CA knows you're trying to get a mortgage, too, right?.

They think they have leverage over you - and they pretty much do, because of the time constraints..

You definitely have to weigh the benefits of this carefully. Of course, worse case scenario, you could pay them, make sure it's with a letter that states "under duress" and "still do not believe it's mine" etc., and then nutcase them after your Lending Tree mortgage goes through and you have keys in your hand to your new house..

Hopefully someone with more experience in this will come along, because I haven't been through this situation before to say "Here's what worked for me..."..

If it is beyond the SOL, why negotiate at all?.

Your Lending Tree mortgage person is concerned that an unpaid collection may result in a judgement/lien against the property. If it is beyone the SOL, that cannot happen..

They can continue collection calls/letters but cannot sue or get a judgement..

You may be able to get the Lending Tree mortgage person to ignore it altogether if it is beyond SOL, therefore harmless. Deal with it later if you feel the obligation to pay it..

Radi8..

What about trying to get the closing company to hold the funds in escrow for a certain period of time? That gives you some time to negotiate, and they are confident it will get paid if pay for deletion fails?.

Maybe Fla-tan knows more about that?..