Utility Company can't appear on credit report

[JeanW]

In "Good Credit is Sexy", it states that doctor bills and overdue utilities cannot appear on your credit report, but that collections resulting from these accounts can.

As of May 2002, my gas/electric company has been reporting on my credit report. Has the law changed? What's going on here?

I have 3 negative entries for 60 days late on this as my utility bills are extremely high (very old drafty house), and I was still trying to catch up from last winter. What is the best way for me to handle this?

[sisflomi]

Some of us here are having a hard time finding this info too. I will pm admin and ask her if she can point us to this info.

[kb9tbq]

As of May 2002, my gas/electric company has been reporting on my credit report. Has the law changed? What's going on here?

I have 3 negative entries for 60 days late on this as my utility bills are extremely high (very old drafty house), and I was still trying to catch up from last winter. What is the best way for me to handle this?

Just in the last year, least here in my state utility companies have gotten on the band wagon to report data to the CRAs. So from here I know they now can, but this had not always been the case.

Right on the Medical, only collection agencies can report now on their behalf to collect debt.

I am not sure on how to approach the utility company on this matter.. they are a hard group to deal with. Might try good will letter, worth a try to see what may come of this.

Another idea is to request re-aging this account, but again I am not sure of the out come or if these is usable on a utility company.

[nativechild48]

:roll:In Ct some municipals own the utility co. (gas and water) and they report lates after so many months and charge interest. Telephone co. does too. SBC sent a notice a couple of months ago that they will begin to report lates if they are over so much (don't remember) but any disputed amounts will not be reported

[JeanW]

It was sure a rude shock to find out THEY could ruin your credit too. Traditionally here, I don't know about other places, you could just pay on your bill as you had the money. Suddenly I'm looking REAL bad there.

I'm getting the impression they are very difficult to deal with... any suggestions in addition to the Goodwill letter? I was behind $400+ when they were trashing my CR, I now owe only $70. Any chance of them removing the bad marks automatically... or am I gonna have to fight for this one?

[kb9tbq]

Think re-aging is the magic word here - talk to customer service / or their reporting department... ask what it would take to get this account reporting positively again. What are their terms... if they do offer this - you may be on probation for a period of time, to prove that you can catch up and stay current paid as agreed.

That is what you can do with credit card companies, and they will agree to wipe the late listings off of the credit reports, but this would be something new to asking utility companies for I am sure, worth a try though.

[Bev3180]

I am not sure on how to approach the utility company on this matter.. they are a hard group to deal with. Might try good will letter, worth a try to see what may come of this.

That is an understatement. I have a paid after charge-off on my CR and never applied for gas service from this utility company. The account was in my husbands name and we paid with a joint checking account, at some point they added my name to the account, but not at my request. I have called and sent letters and never received any type of response. I guess it's time to request validation and get nasty.

[admin]

I can't think of anything that would technically restrict it in the FCRA, but I know you can't report medical accounts because of HIPA laws. I think utilities may be ok to report.

§ 605. Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports [15 U.S.C. § 1681c]

(a) Information excluded from consumer reports. Except as authorized under subsection ( of this section, no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information:

(1) Cases under title 11 [united States Code] or under the Bankruptcy Act that, from the date of entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication, as the case may be, antedate the report by more than 10 years.

(2) Civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest that from date of entry, antedate the report by more than seven years or until the governing statute of limitations has expired, whichever is the longer period.

(3) Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more than seven years.

(4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the report by more than seven years.(1)

(5) Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years.1

( Exempted cases. The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are not applicable in the case of any consumer credit report to be used in connection with

(1) a credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a principal amount of $150,000 or more;

(2) the underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a face amount of $150,000 or more; or

(3) the employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or which may reasonably be expected to equal $75,000, or more.

© Running of reporting period.

(1) In general. The 7-year period referred to in paragraphs (4) and (6) ** of subsection (a) shall begin, with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection (internally or by referral to a third party, whichever is earlier), charged to profit and loss, or subjected to any similar action, upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the commencement of the delinquency which immediately preceded the collection activity, charge to profit and loss, or similar action.

(2) Effective date. Paragraph (1) shall apply only to items of information added to the file of a consumer on or after the date that is 455 days after the date of enactment of the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 1996.

(d) Information required to be disclosed. Any consumer reporting agency that furnishes a consumer report that contains information regarding any case involving the consumer that arises under title 11, United States Code, shall include in the report an identification of the chapter of such title 11 under which such case arises if provided by the source of the information. If any case arising or filed under title 11, United States Code, is withdrawn by the consumer before a final judgment, the consumer reporting agency shall include in the report that such case or filing was withdrawn upon receipt of documentation certifying such withdrawal.

(e) Indication of closure of account by consumer. If a consumer reporting agency is notified pursuant to section 623(a)(4) [§ 1681s-2] that a credit account of a consumer was voluntarily closed by the consumer, the agency shall indicate that fact in any consumer report that includes information related to the account.

(f) Indication of dispute by consumer. If a consumer reporting agency is notified pursuant to section 623(a)(3) [§ 1681s-2] that information regarding a consumer who was furnished to the agency is disputed by the consumer, the agency shall indicate that fact in each consumer report that includes the disputed information.