on a mission Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 Hello everyone. I need some help on this one. I disputed 3 accounts with equifax about 3 months ago, and also put a fraud alert on. After invesitgation equifax just marked those items as in dispute and they still show that way. I called and they said that the credit bureau says they were in dispute. They still show that way three months later. MY question is what kind of letter can I send to Equifax to have them remove this, since i have not even been in touch with that credit bureau anyway. Please help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on a mission Posted May 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 somebody anybody. say something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocDon Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 Did you get a letter with the results of the disputes? If yes, when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleancreditby04 Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 If you disputed with Equifax 3 months ago, they have had ample time to investigate your disputes and verify. Apparently they haven't done so and per the FCRA, the disputed items must now be deleted. Check the link above for a sample follow-up letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on a mission Posted May 18, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2003 Yes I did get a letter with the results of the dispute. It read that Equifax verified the information with such and such collecttion agency date 04/03. But my credit report reflected Items were still in dispute. I called and asked why Rep told me that the CA had directed them to show the items in dispute, and I have not even sent the Ca a validation letter. So how long can a CA continue to show an item that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocDon Posted May 19, 2003 Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 I remember reading a previous post that addressed this and can't find it to save my life.From what I remember, the CA has 30 days in which to validate your dispute with the OC, which it appears they did. I then believe they can actually list the account as "disputed" for up to 6 months while you pick apart what is not correct with the account (ie: CA validates account with OC, say for a debt of $100, that amount is incorrect according to your records, and is in dispute).Maybe this will jog someone's memory out there on this topic, but I believe that's what I've read. [Edit by DocDon on Sunday, May 18, 2003 @ 06:42 PM] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on a mission Posted May 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 I think this is one of those all time questions. Because I searched the laws and no where in them can I find where it says how long a Ca can continue to report Consumer Disputes. If anyone knows or have had this happen, please post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb9tbq Posted May 19, 2003 Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 Activating a fraud alert - takes more work on your part to show resonable efforts to prove id theft.Usually you would file a police report (itemize all accounts on the report that resulted from fraud) - contact the collection agency directly requesting their address for fraud disputes. Send them a letter - including copy of the police report disputing with them. You will want to follow up with them to follow their investigation on the matter. Be sure to keep records of everything you do. The collection agency or original creditor may also need for you to forward id theft affidavit as well.These can be found at www.ftc.gov also another good site for id theft is http://www.idtheftcenter.org/alerts.shtmlYou may also want to forward copy of your phone bill (showing address & name along with phone number). Add a victim statement "please contact before extending credit; victim of id theft". The CRAs will add this to the credit report. This usually will stay on 7 years or until you write back requesting removal. Understand that this will cut off accessing credit report on line - requests for copy of credit report will have to be sent in by writing. This is for your protection though.Fraud alert only lasts 3 months; plus not all creditors will see this alert to know the fact of the matter.Also the CRAs now sell a product that will alow you to lock your credit file from anyone extending credit to be able to pull. If you want to apply for credit you would be required to contact the CRAs first to get a pin number (let them know what creditor will be pulling copy of credit report / this will only unlock for a one time pull). This will cost you; upwards to $80 - $100 per CRA.If you have any other questions on this part let me know; but this should put you on the right track for dealing with this problem. Best of wishes in your efforts on this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on a mission Posted May 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 Thanks KB for you answer but I don't know if you quite understand my question. I initiated a dispute with Equifax, Equifax in return did an investigation, The CA whom I have yet to send a validation letter to informed Equifax that consumer disputes. I understand by law if you send validation letter to CA then they need to report these Items as being in dispute.(they are trying to get by by just saying consumer disputes, so my question is how long can they continue to keep reporting to Equifax consumer disputes. AT some point they need to either provide me proof of the debt or deleter am I right. BTW I just faxed a validation letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on a mission Posted May 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 Oh by the way KB i just listed the fraud so that I would be able to opt out, at the time I didn't realize there was an opt out line. (silly me) So maybe that is where all that is coming from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb9tbq Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 Well they are testing you on this matter; the collection agency don't have to respond to DV letters. You can try re-disputing with the collection agency demanding a shorter period of time for them to respond.Think some here have even taken it so far to forward letter sent to the collection agency with the return recipt trying to prove to the CRA failure of the collection company to verify account directly with you. And that you demand they remove this unverified account from your credit report.Someone else will need to come in & fine tune what I am saying; since this is not my strong point. But least give you idea of where you might go with this.Otherwise you will be stuck in a dead lock with the reporting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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