Print out the reports from the 3 credit bureaus.
Either the address or telephone number will show up.
Get a good book from your library or bookstore on:
Credit Repair – bookstores have many.
They will teach you step by step how to deal with them.
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No offense, but your explanation says a lot about the way you handle money. You’re spending before you have it. You’re counting on this huge bonus from work. Just wait until you have the money and pay cash. This is how many young college students get into trouble.

1. They have changed the account numbers on all of the accounts on my credit, as well as the "date opened" and "last payment" dates… so it really looks like i have DOUBLE the amount of debt on my credit, with half of it looking to be recent, instead of old charge-offs. Is this legal?

2. How old should a debt be before i request debt validation? Does it matter?

3. Should i send ONE validation letter requesting validation for MULTIPLE accounts, or seperate?

4. Do i file a dispute with the CRA first, or the collector first?

Anyone have any experience dealing with MCM and/or debt validation? What happened? I feel like they are somehow breaking a lot of laws…. please help!
One thing i did want to mention, is that these accounts are only 2-3 yrs old. Original accounts are reporting a $0 balance, and then the account is listed by midland is reporting a balance as the "collector", but the dates make it seem like i just opened the accounts 3 months ago, when they were charged off 2 yrs ago!

I dealt with Midland a few years ago. They tried collecting on a debt that written off 20 years ago. They even got the credit card company to report a "recent" transaction of $100, just so it can stay on the credit report. I called the credit card company and asked what was going on, and they just shrugged it off as a compute error.

If your debt is beyond the statute of limitations for them to collect through the courts, you’re in a better position. Understand that a collection agency can try to collect the debt beyond the statute of limitations by "asking" you to pay, they just can’t legally take you to court to collect.

Here’s a list of the statute of limitations by state:

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml

You can send a debt validation letter to them at any time. Send one per account, registered mail, return receipt.

Here is a copy of the letter I used that worked very well:

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/forms/sampleletter9.shtml

Send the validation letter to them, and a dispute letter to all three CRA’s. If a new transaction date was added to the old account to make it look current, contact the original credit card company and ask them why the transaction was reported if the account was closed, and to correct it immediately. They will tell you it may take up to 30 days, live with it.

One thing has me worried, that they have new account numbers for old debt. You may have re-affirmed the debt by talking to them and agreeing that you owe the money, or promise to pay. That may be a problem. NEVER admit anything if the collection agency calls you. Just tell them that you don’t want to be called at home, and everything has to be done via mail. At that point they are not allowed to call you (legally) any more.

I think the validation letter will solve your problems. Expect about 30 days to clear this up.

Note that this won’t FIX your credit, it will only take Midland out of the picture. Bad credit lasts for 7-10 years, though you can rebuild your credit during that time.

More details here http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/credit-rating

Your only option would be to find a place that would overlook his poor credit. Maybe extra deposit or paying several extra months in advance.

WRITE, stay off the phone at every level, do not say a word over the phone and offer them a fraction of the debts if over a year old the older the less percentage. When you get their reply IN WRITING that that is acceptable then send in a Money Order or Certified Check, never a personal check and do not allow them to take the funds from your checking account.

When you WRITE those letters it never hurts to throw in a sentence or two on paying if they delete, all they can say is no.

However, creditors do look at your whole report, not just your score. Paid old debt looks better than unpaid.

With this in mind you should try to settle for as little as you can. If the debt is over 3 years old, offer 25%; 2 or 3 years old, offer 50%; less than 2, offer 75%. Lump sum gets the best deals. Payment plans must be short term. Get any settlement agreement in writing and keep it along with your payment proof, forever. Do not give collectors direct access to your bank account.

If any of the derogatory items are single entry items like medical and utility bills, negotiate a pay for delete — you pay $x and they remove the item. This will help your score. But it doesn’t work for regularly reported items like credit cards and installment loans. The collection agency can’t remove what the original creditor reported.

After you get every thing cleared up, you will need at least 24 months of consistent, on time payment history to see improvement in your score.