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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs




Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 3 months, 11 days
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Collections
#7873745 - 01/13/08 02:59 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
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I've never been late with a CC payment, rent payment, or anything.
Last week I checked my credit report and it said I had a collections claim of $79 for some book club in 2005. I know I wasn't in any book club, so it seems bogus to me.
What do you guys think would be the best way of going about getting this off my credit history? If it gets taken care of, will it be off for good or can people checking it still see that I've had a collections claim in the past?
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Liz
Owl Lady




Registered: 11/16/04
Posts: 6,962
Loc: Massachusetts
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7873766 - 01/13/08 03:05 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
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Track down a contact number for the collection company, and ask them to remove it, or prove that it is yours. They need to be able to prove it. If they say they will remove it have them send you something in WRITING so that you can send it to the 3 credit bureaus yourself and make sure it's taken off! Once it's gone, it's gone for good. If they won't remove it right away, have them put a note on there that "the consumer is disputing the account" until you can get it taken off completely.
-------------------- Remember, remember the fifth of November The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.
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GnosticWarrior
Hermit


Registered: 03/11/07
Posts: 241
Loc: Oahu, Hawaii
Last seen: 14 years, 8 months
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7873916 - 01/13/08 03:38 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
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When I got a copy of my credit report, it had outstanding debt that was created by another person. The report showed his SSN# was very similar to mine, he had the same first name, and his last name began with the same letter as mine. It also showed his addresses that he resided at.
I called one of the three agencies, Experian I think, and went over each line of my report that was not really mine. They deleted it and sent me a copy of the cleaned up report. I hope yours will be as simple.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7874283 - 01/13/08 04:48 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
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1. Send a letter w/ proof of delivery directly to the creditor. Ask for proof its you, and say that you dispute that you owe any money.
2. Send a letter to all credit bureaus reporting this debt and likwise dispute its yours.
3. Wait a month after all have recieved your letter.
4. IF the debt still shows, either start bitching or sue. I had a problem with this once. They actually ignored me. Within a few days of serving them, I recieved an offer to remove it. I told them to pay the court costs and remove the debt as settlment, they agreed.
Don't settle for a "paid in full" or some other bullshit, tell them to remove it. In the later case, no one will ever know, in the former, it will possibly show that you defaulted and then paid afterwards.
You can also complain to your state attorney general and the FTC.
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Veritas


Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7874799 - 01/13/08 06:37 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
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I would contact all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion & Equifax) directly, either by phone or online, and officially dispute that item on your report. I have done this a few times, and it is easy and highly effective.
They will investigate & remove the item from your report if the creditor is unable to prove that you incurred the debt. This is what happened with each item I contested.
After nearly three years, contacting the book club directly would be a waste of your time, IMO. They probably no longer have record of it, which is exactly what the credit bureaus will discover for you. If they DO still have records, the book club folks will take it more seriously if three credit bureaus call them to investigate.
If the item is removed, it will no longer be listed on your report.
Edited by Veritas (01/13/08 06:39 PM)
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs




Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 3 months, 11 days
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7896141 - 01/18/08 05:52 AM (16 years, 14 days ago) |
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Thanks for the advice, guys. It ended up being a lot easier than I thought it would be.
I called the collections agency and inquired about the charge. When I asked what I could do about it since it wasn't mine, the phone operator consulted with his supervisor and they decided to remove the account rather than deal with the dispute process. He said that it would be closed and it would no longer show up on my credit report.
The guy was polite and had a surprising amount of integrity. I left the phone conversation with a good taste in my mouth, which was not what I expected.
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Liz
Owl Lady




Registered: 11/16/04
Posts: 6,962
Loc: Massachusetts
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Re: Collections [Re: Redstorm]
#7901921 - 01/19/08 02:04 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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I hope you had them send you something in writing - that way, if it continues to appear erroneously, you can get it cleared up quickly with a letter stating that the debt should have been removed. You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard "They said they removed that MONTHS ago!"
-------------------- Remember, remember the fifth of November The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.
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