Credit Setback - Hard Money Loan (Houston)

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I have spent the last 3 month trying meticulously to take care of my credit and not have anyone check it unless absolutely necessary. I have a pre-approval letter from an investment mortgage company, but wanted to have one for hard money, based on a need with working with a wholesaler.

I applied last week with a hard money lender and woke up this morning with a rejection email in my inbox. Come to find out, a company called RJM Acquisitions, LLC has put a collections on my credit report on an account from a book club that I was never a member of. Also, one of the mortgage companies that I previously applied for ran my credit twice the same day and it showed up on my report.

I'm in the process now of sending letters to the credit company and the collectors to verify the account or have it removed immediately, but this has set me back at least a month, maybe more.

Has anyone in Houston worked with a hard money lender that basis less on score? My score is still above 660, but the collections and excessive inquiries are eating my lunch right now.