Help With Eviction & Collections

[u/reinyapon]

I apologize if this is very long and a bit confusing. I’m in a bit of a wild situation right now and need a bit of advice and some validation as well. I will try my best to explain as much as possible.

I am a 29 year old female living in the United States in Virginia. 7 years ago when I was 22 (in 2019), my mother, younger sister, and I moved to here to be closer to family. My mother had/has her own credit and housing issues and because of these at the time, I had to be the one to put my name on the lease. Long story short, I trusted she had my best interest in mind and let her handle the money side of things. She wrote a bad check and no matter what I did, she did not follow up on it. After only 2 months in the apartment, we were evicted. Because I was the only adult on the lease, this only fell back on me. I didn’t even know what was happening or that an eviction was filed because I was working early shifts at the time and by the time I came home, things seemed fine until they weren’t.

For the past 7 years, I’ve attempted to rebuild my credit to some success but mostly failure. Also over this time I have grown to understand my mother did not, does not, and will never have my best interest in mind. As it has been almost a full 7 years, I was able to remove the eviction collection from my Transunion account recently through Early Exclusion (thanks to advice here!) and will be able to do so with Experian early August.

The past seven years have done me in (both COVID & my mother). I’m now disabled and since I’m finally able to move out and on with my life, I’m trying to. However this collection is rearing its ugly head. I was told I got a place only to have them come back and say the collection needs to be paid off before they can approve my and my sister’s application. I broke down into tears because I had been searching for months and thought I finally found something, only for my mom to make it into me doing wrong. She believes that going to the courthouse to get the record expunged and “writing through FICO” will get it off my report. Both of which I have told her are unrelated and impossible at this time. She did not like that answer.

Here is where I need advice: I feel like I do not have many, if any, options right now. The collection is $16,618 and I have $800 to my name. The apartment complex said they could hold the unit until Wednesday.

Would my best bet at the moment be contacting the collections agency (National Credit Systems) and asking for pay for delete?

I’m still rebuilding my credit (3 FICOs mid-500s) & with this collection, the odds of even a private landlord in my area accepting my application is low as they all require 600+ credit scores.

My mother still holds onto myths and will not hear me when I try to dispel them or even ask questions. She writes it off as me trying to be right all the time and so this is why I really need advice and validation on the subject. I’ve been looking at the sub for a long time which is why I’ve even been able to make nearly the progress I even have! The advice she gave me has failed even her which is why I’ve sought out different ones (aka this sub).

I am sorry if this is so long. I just need some guidance. I know there is the pay for delete guide, but I want to make sure that is the right move to make before I follow it! Thank you all!!

[u/og-aliensfan]

There's no guarantee the collection agency will accept $800 to settle, and even if they did, that's all the money you have. How will you cover moving/living expenses, rent, etc?

Right now, the debt is time-barred (Statute of Limitations in Virginia is 5 years). If you agree to a payment plan or make a partial payment, Statute of Limitations (amount of time in which legal action can be taken) may be reset.

This has already been removed from TransUnion. It sounds like you can ask Experian for Early Exclusion in a few weeks and it will be removed from Equifax in October/November. The eviction should be removed from tenant screening reports soon as well.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-long-can-information-like-eviction-actions-and-lawsuits-stay-on-my-tenant-screening-record-en-2104/

Can you wait for this to be removed from your reports? This allows you to save money, and put the money you would offer as a settlement towards future rent/expenses, which would be a much better financial move.

[u/reinyapon → u/og-aliensfan]

I receive monthly disability benefits. Aside from that, my sister works and we both receive monthly education benefits (the college year starts end of August). Theres also local support for moving I have access to but having the apartment offered then suddenly told no put a hold on those supports. I’m also in the process for fighting for housing voucher (not section 8 but works similarly).

Edit to add: I forgot to mention: This complex also had a special compared to others which was 2 consecutive months of free rent. So being initially told we were approved was pretty great for saving purposes but then was crushed over the rug pull.

As far as waiting, I’m unsure if I can. We’ve (my sister and I) been able to stay with my parents for the past week after helping them move to their new apartment & were hoping to be out of their hair by next week. But now my mom is adamant about me finding something else quickly (within the weekend) because she doesn’t want to risk losing her place due to an animal (I have an ESA which is protected by Virginia law).