Blogging Away Debt

Hi, friends! Thanks for all of your comments on this post! I have loved reading your success stories. It has been so helpful to read about so many who have successfully navigated a mid-life career change and come out on the other side better for it. I so appreciate your support!

Today I’m re-posting an old blog (originally published here). Partly because I’ve been dealing with some serious FTD-related issues lately. The short story is that my dad has now turned to self-harm when he becomes frustrated (which is always). It’s created several mini-emergencies, as he’s cut himself with a razor, hit his head with a hammer in Walmart, and frequently punches himself in the stomach/gut area. My siblings and I are panicked trying to get these symptoms under control. He has a psychiatrist appointment today so – fingers crossed – we can tweak some meds and help reduce some of his anxiety and frustration. I just cannot even convey how sh*tty this disease is. And it gets virtually NO attention. There’s no funding for medical research whatsoever and, currently, there are NO medications available to help slow the disease’s progression. It’s just heart-wrenching to watch.

So, while I have this platform with a little bit of readership (thanks for reading!) I just want to do my part to try to raise awareness. You may also be interested in seeing this very short clip from the Today show. An expert in the field answered some questions about FTD, discussing key differences between FTD and Alzheimers. Check it out if it interests you.

Have a great day!

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It’s October. We all know what that means. Breast cancer awareness month, right? Pink everywhere!

Which is fantastic! We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.

But do you know what other “awareness” week is going on right now?

Frontotemporal degeneration awareness.

Fronto-What?

Frontotemporal degeneration. Fronto (as in the frontal lobe), temporal (as in the temporal lobe) degeneration (as in…degenerating).

So, I guess the cat’s out of the bag. This is what my Dad’s got.

It’s a terrible, dehumanizing, crippling disease. It destroys the very essence of the human being.

Right now there is no cure. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, there aren’t even any treatments to slow progression (just meds to help manage side-effects, such as OCD-type qualities or anti-psychotics to help assuage delusions/hallucinations).

I’m not going to pretend to be an expert. I’ve read plenty, but we’re still relatively new to the disease as a whole, so I’m not going to spout off a lot of statistics at you. You can read about it for yourself.

Initially I wasn’t even going to post anything. I’ve never revealed my Dad’s illness. But why suffer in silence? This dementia is the second most diagnosed dementia for people under the age of 60. And there is a serious lack of funding right now for it. Mainly because (I can’t help to think) no one has heard of it! What is it, even!? What does it do?

In short? It wreaks havoc. It causes the person’s thoughts and behaviors to change. It will likely force the diagnosed individual into early retirement (or could precipitate an untimely termination). It robs the person of his or her very essence, changing fundamental personality traits.

Frontotemporal degeneration awareness week spans from October 4-11. As you are inundated with breast cancer awareness messages in social media, maybe take a moment to think about this lesser known disease that is every bit as crippling and debilitating. This disease for which there is no chemotherapy or radiation treatment. For which those diagnosed are rarely seen as heroic; no imagery of warriors “battling” the disease. Instead, most are ostracized. Their odd patterns of behavior cause people to cut social ties, forcing them into an increasingly withdrawn, sad, and lonely world.

Given the closeness to home, you can bet that this is going to become something very near to my heart. As we get out of debt, I’d love to be able to start donating to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration to raise awareness and provide funds for research. With any luck, one day we’ll have medications to help slow the progression of this wretched disease. Seeing the physical and mental anguish it causes is nothing short of heart-breaking. Research is needed. So spread the word.

Hugs to all!

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” (source)

5 Ways to Remove Debt Collection Accounts from Your Credit History

by BAD Community Member

There are several ways you can remove collection accounts from your credit report. Some removal methods may require negotiating. Others methods may require paying part or even all of the debt you owe. Each method listed below may be right for some situations but not others. Carefully consider the pros and cons of each method before you use it.

Negotiate Settlement with Creditor

It may be possible to negotiate a debt settlement with the creditor that you owe. This often means paying less than the full amount owed. In exchange, your collection account is changed to pay in full.

This method can be very effective when you owe more than $1,000. You will have to do some negotiating to get the best deal possible. The settlement agreement stipulates that the negative listing is removed when you make the agreed payment. You pay a lower amount and improve your credit.

Collection Deletion Payment

If your collection account has a balance of $500 or less than a collection deletion payment may be possible. You may be able to pay in full so that the collection is deleted from your credit reports. This method works well if you owe smaller medical bills, utility bills, or other minor debts.

You offer to pay the debt in full as long as collection account is deleted once payment is received. This will remove the accounts paid from your credit report. Without the account listed your credit score will normally increase.

Dispute with Major Credit Bureaus

Another way to remove a collections account from your credit is to dispute it. You dispute the account with the major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. You must write a letter to each of the credit bureaus showing the disputed debt. In the letter state that you are asking for an investigation into the account. The law requires the credit bureau to investigate the debt.

The credit agency must determine whether the disputed debt is properly documented. This documentation must meet certain credit reporting requirements. Any dispute must be investigated and verified. If this is not done then you can force the credit agency to remove the account from your credit report.

Request Debt Validation

This method is similar to disputing your debt but it is more aggressive. You may need to file a lawsuit if you do not get a response from the credit bureau within the time allowed. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act this is normally 30 days. You must request debt validation in writing, and the letter should be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested.

The response timeline starts as soon as the credit agency receives your debt validation letter. Once the credit bureau receives your validation request they legally must obtain validation of the debt. A copy of the validation must be provided to you. If this is not done then the law demands that the credit agency remove the debt from your credit report.

If the credit bureau is not responsive then you may have to sue to have the debt removed. This can be costly. Documentation is usually difficult or impossible to provide. Many creditors do not have physical proof of the debt owed.

Original Creditor 623 Dispute

If you have tried to dispute a collections account with the credit bureaus without results don’t despair. You can use the original creditor 623 dispute method. You must send a dispute letter to the original creditor who placed the account with the collection agency. This method involves the Fair Credit Reporting Act section 623 (PDF).

Once the original creditor receives the dispute letter they must respond within 30 days. The creditor must verify the debt and prove you owe it. This method is especially effective at removing a collection account from your credit report.

Final Words

As you can see, fixing your credit score requires time and patience. If you want to remove these negative accounts from your credit you need to be persistent! Remember to keep detailed records and mail receipts as proof of your efforts. If you don’t succeed at first keep trying, using a different method if necessary. Eventually, you will be rewarded with a higher credit score.

Blogging Away Debt Blogging Away Debt follows real people on their journey to debt freedom — with tips on the debt snowball, budgeting, cutting expenses, and staying motivated.

FTD Awareness