equifax report question

[thegallowayz]

I have an Equifax credit report and a few of the negative items reported have, under the date opened column, "n/a".....What does this mean?

Also what does "date opened" mean? is it the date I originally opened the account?

[willingtocope]

what does "date opened" mean? is it the date I originally opened the account?

In theory, yes, date opened means when it was opened. However, if you're talking about an tradeline from a collectors, that could be the date they first reported...or, if its a junk debt buyer, that could be the date they bought it.

Except for how these dates get factored into your FICO scores, they really don't mean much to us...

[June]

I have an Equifax credit report and a few of the negative items reported have, under the date opened column, "n/a".....What does this mean? Also what does "date opened" mean? is it the date I originally opened the account?

That's "n/a" for a few Credit Accounts? Creditors usually provide this date.

Are they Collection Agencies Accounts improperly listed under the Credit Account heading?

Under the heading: Credit Account Information - "Date Opened" means the date that the credit grantor opened the Account.

For Original Creditors (OCs) reporting to EQ make sure the Date of Last Activity (DOLA) is close to being accurate to measure the 7-year reporting period.

Under the heading: Collection Agency Information - there's 5 other dates used by Collection Agencies (CAs), Junk Debt Buyers (JDBs) and Debt Repurchasers (DRs). They are:

1) Collection Reported Date

2) Assigned Date

3) Status Date

4) Date of 1st Delinquency (DOFD)

5) Balance Date.

For CAs, JDBs and DRs make sure the DOFD is somewhat accurate so that they cannot report the collection accounts longer than 7 years.

[thegallowayz]

under account name column, its the name of the collection agency that bought the account from the original credit grantor and these are the accounts that have "n/a" under the date opened column. i'll try and duplicate it below.. this is just one but there are four other ones like this.

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

assest....\.open....\sprnt246.\...n/a...\$194.\08/05\..$194.\..collect....\...$0

accept

cor

[June]

under account name column, its the name of the collection agency that bought the account from the original credit grantor and these are the accounts that have "n/a" under the date opened column. i'll try and duplicate it below.. this is just one but there are four other ones like this.

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

assest....\.open....\sprnt246.\...n/a...\$194.\08/05\..$194.\..collect....\...$0

accept cor

For Equifax, there are two sections; Collection Agency Information and Credit Account Information. Where exactly are these 5 accounts reporting? What Section? I would like to see another example to see if there is a "pattern." ok.

[thegallowayz]

Its under the Account information section of the report.

these are what the other 4 say...

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

lvnvfund....\.open..\sears115x.\...n/a.\$1308.\12/06\.$1308.\..collect....\...$0

_________________________________

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

palisade....\.open..\12547xxx.\...n/a.\$769.\09/06\.$769....\..collect....\...$0

__________________________________

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

palisade....\.open..\12547xxx.\...n/a.\$170.\09/06\.$170....\..collect....\...$0

acctname/accttype/acctnum/dateopen/bal/dt rptd/pstdue/acctstatus/crdlm

________/_______/________/_______/___/______/______/_________/_____

palisade....\.open..\12547xxx.\...n/a.\$604.\09/06\.$604....\..collect....\...$0

[June]

As you may know, I reside in Florida. You're in Arizona.

Your EQ Credit Report appears to read kind of different. But...

1) EQ is currently reporting 5 alleged Collections accounts under the incorrect "Heading."

2) EQ should be correctly reporting all 5 accounts under the heading of "Collection Agency Information."

3) Due to this inaccurate or false reporting there is "n/a" as an "Open Date" for these accounts. There is no "Open Date" to report for Collection Agencies. "Open Date" and "Credit Limit" are reserved for OCs.

4) For "Collection Agency Information" there is an "Assigned Date" for CAs.

5) EQ is not showing the 5 Collections' Assigned Date, or the Date of First Delinquency (DOFD). There is no way for anyone to measure the mandatory 7-year Reporting Time Period (RTP).

6) EQ is reporting 3 Collection Accounts for PALISADE. What's that all about !!!

7) There are 3 alleged Palisade Accounts showing inaccurate or false information:

a) the same account number

the same Date Open: "n/a"

c) 3 different Balances ($769, $170, $604)

d) 3 different Past Due Balances ($769, $170, $604)

In total, you have 3 alleged Collections (with 5 showing), which must be Debt Validated (DV) directly with ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LVNV FUND and PALISADE and Disputed with EQ.

Hope this helps.

[thegallowayz]

thank you very much for clarifying.....you have been very helpful

[June]

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http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263069

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[June]

Hi, theGallowayz:

I needed to add this:

1) EQ must show the Original Creditor for Collections.

2) EQ must show the address and telephone number with the name of the CA.

Had EQ listed the Collection accounts in the proper section, you would be able to compare the information listed in the "Credit Account Information" section.

[lookinup]

Huh, I've got one of these too, I guess. A collection account is showing on my Equifax CR under "accounts" and nothing shows under "collection accounts."

Does this matter? Should I dispute? If so, how do I dispute it?

For the record, the alleged debt should fall off the reports in about a year and the SOL is passed. I haven't actually heard from the CA, it just appeared recently on my CRAs, so I'm just trying to lay low until the 7 years is up. Also, the OC (a telecom company) does not have a TL on my report.

[June]

Huh, I've got one of these too, I guess. A collection account is showing on my Equifax CR under "accounts" and nothing shows under "collection accounts." Does this matter?

I am no Expert. For me it certainly matters. I believe there must be a FICO "reason" for the 2 different Categories. It's inaccurate and incomplete information, misleading information, not showing the true legal status, wrong category, etc. If yours is like theGallowayz EQ CR, it doesn't show:

1) Collection Reported Date

2) Assigned Date

3) Status Date

4) Date of 1st Delinquency *(DOFD)

5) Balance Date

6) Original Creditor

Should I dispute? If so, how do I dispute it?

First, I would Dispute with the CRAs as reason: OTHER: Wrong Category, should the alleged debt be proven to be yours. One thing at a time, don't want to confuse the CRA clerks. After (IF) it is placed in the correct Category, then do the regular CRA Dispute.

For the record, the alleged debt should fall off the reports in about a year and the SOL is passed. I haven't actually heard from the CA, it just appeared recently on my CRAs, so I'm just trying to lay low until the 7 years is up. Also, the OC (a telecom company) does not have a TL on my report.

It's less aggravation and less disputes when you have only one trade line for an alleged debt. As you may know, "most recent dates" in any category damages credit scores. Each month this JDB (in the creditor's category) will most likely "Update" the one date that it is reporting; "Date Reported" to a recent date and the alleged debt will appear brand new, each and every month, until (or when) it falls off.

I would DV the JDB ASAP because they are not reporting the "DOFD" and frequently changing the "Date Reported" every month, this alleged debt may remain on your CRs much longer than 7 (or 7.5) years. Don't wait until next year. Get started now! Your actions now will let this crooked JDB know that you are aware of your rights and federal credit reporting laws. And chances are great that this JDB cannot Validate the old alleged debt and may go away a lot sooner. Good luck!

I am very distressed that the CRAs would even allow the CAs and JDBs to report in such a manner. It's ridiculous !!!

[lookinup]

OK, thanks for your advice. I have disputed the info with EQ basically saying "This tradeline is incorrectly reported as an open account instead of a collection account, depriving me of important information about this alleged debt."

It's a little unclear on privacyguard how the other CRAs are reporting this. I'll have to pull full reports and see if I need to do the same for the other CRAs.

I'll DV the JDB sometime soon but need to get a digital recorder first. They are a subsidiary of NCO so I expect them to rack up some violations once I nudge them awake, which I may have done with this dispute.

[June]

"This tradeline is *inaccurately reported as a Credit Account instead of a Collection Agency Account, depriving me of *complete information about this alleged debt."

*the law uses the terms: accurate and complete, inaccurate and incomplete and/or erroneous (I think).

[lookinup]

Well, I already disputed with the statement I put above, so it's too late now. But thanks for the advice on wording.

[Priceless]

"This tradeline is *inaccurately reported as a Credit Account instead of a Collection Agency Account, depriving me of *complete information about this alleged debt."

*the law uses the terms: accurate and complete, inaccurate and incomplete and/or erroneous (I think).

I would like to begin by thanking those of you which make this website possible. I am fortunate to have found it just as I begin the process of repairing my credit. Just optained all 3 CR from freecreditreport. My question has to do with EQ CR. Following the nature of this thread, I will be disputing the following 5 TL. BofA (1-CO-transfered/sold), Discover (1-CO), NCO Financial (2-CA), All American Financial (1-CA). One of the NCO accounts is the BofA CO. ALL accounts are pass the SOL as of 8/07.

My question is: All the above accounts, with the exception of All American Financial, are being reported numerous time under different categories:

Negative Account History

BofA

NCO (both)

Discover

Accounts Currently Past Due

Discover

NCO (both)

Other Accounts

NCO (both)

Collections

All American Financial

Should I dispute these with the CR according to the above quote?

And then follow up with the CA with a letter on SOL?

I'm rather confused on what my first steps should be...maybe none of the above? Any direction from those in the know would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

[lovebug5]

I would like to begin by thanking those of you which make this website possible. I am fortunate to have found it just as I begin the process of repairing my credit. Just optained all 3 CR from freecreditreport. My question has to do with EQ CR. Following the nature of this thread, I have 5 accounts I will be disputing. BofA (1-CO-transfered/sold), Discover (1-CO), NCO Financial (2-CA), All American Financial (1-CA). One of the NCO accounts is the BofA CO. ALL accounts are pass the SOL as of 8/07.

My question is: All the above accounts, with the exception of All American Financial, are being reported numerous time under different categories:

Negative Account History

BofA

NCO

Discover

Accounts Currently Past Due

Discover

NCO (both)

Other Accounts

NCO (both)

Collections

All American Financial

Should I dispute these with the CR according to the above quote?

And then follow up with the CA with a letter on SOL?

I'm rather confused on what my first steps should be...maybe none of the above? Any direction from those in the know would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

As far as disputing your accounts using the above quotes, that situation is a bit different from yours. When you say that your accounts are past the SOL, are you speaking of the 7-year reporting SOL? If so, you should dispute on the basis that the accounts are obsolete...If you are saying that they're past the oral/written contract SOL's, that's a whole other ballgame.

The "categories" that you have listed above are "categories" that the CRA's use to easily divide your credit report for you and have absolutely no bearing on the type of account that is being reported. Some people will tell you to begin your dispute process by disputing everything as "not mine"...While others, like me, agree with the sentiment of disputing for completeness and accuracy of an account.

Hope that helps, and good luck on your new journey!

[Priceless]

As far as disputing your accounts using the above quotes, that situation is a bit different from yours. When you say that your accounts are past the SOL, are you speaking of the 7-year reporting SOL? If so, you should dispute on the basis that the accounts are obsolete...If you are saying that they're past the oral/written contract SOL's, that's a whole other ballgame.

The "categories" that you have listed above are "categories" that the CRA's use to easily divide your credit report for you and have absolutely no bearing on the type of account that is being reported. Some people will tell you to begin your dispute process by disputing everything as "not mine"...While others, like me, agree with the sentiment of disputing for completeness and accuracy of an account.

Hope that helps, and good luck on your new journey!

Oops, I should have clarified...they are pass the SOL on collectibility based on Fl statues. Are you recommending I dispute based on accuracy? How would that work? In the mean time....I'm gonna get started on a search based on your suggestion!

Thanks Lovebug5.