Help needed - Dispute Reasons (natural disaster)

[Anonymous]

I have 6 late payments on each report.  They occured in the months immediately following hurricanes Jeanne and Francis in '04 and Wilma '05 in my area (Southeast coast Florida.) 

Do you think I'd have more luck disputing them by clicking the TU box 

I am a victim of a natural or declared disaster.

(this is the reason as we had no electricity or mail delivery for several weeks each time) or by trying a GW letter first?

I'd also try to have them removed from the EX and EQ reports as well.

[Tuscani]

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Felicity wrote:

I have 6 late payments on each report.  They occured in the months immediately following hurricanes Jeanne and Francis in '04 and Wilma '05 in my area (Southeast coast Florida.) 

Do you think I'd have more luck disputing them by clicking the TU box 

I am a victim of a natural or declared disaster.

(this is the reason as we had no electricity or mail delivery for several weeks each time) or by trying a GW letter first?

I'd also try to have them removed from the EX and EQ reports as well.

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Is that an actual dispute option? If so, try it! The GW can be used as a back up.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is on Trans Union.  Haven't checked the other two CRA's yet. 

[Tuscani]

Interesting.. let us know how it turns out.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/events/katrina/money_credit.html#credit
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/16/yourmoney/mbrf1.php
http://retireplan.about.com/od/taxes/qt/Katrina_relief.htm
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=152734,00.html

Some perhaps useful reading.

[MercyMe]

Felicity, my daughter-in-law just disputed several (9) lates on her mortgage payments due to the same hurricanes.  She wrote letters to all three CRAS  and the OC providing the dates of the storms as well as copies of the  disaster declarations, which can be found using the links Noah_Bodie sent you,  made on each.  Thus far her mortgage company, Wachovia, has removed three of the nine, lates.  We're working on the others, as she didn't include Wilma in her dispute.  It's been a rough couple of years for we Floridian's, as far as hurricanes go, huh? And here we go, again!  

Anyway, I don't know that I'd dispute with the CRAS, online.  The OC makes the call to delete, and as most disputes are handled electronically, the same info may come back verified.  I'd send letters to both the OC and the CRAS, with as much information as you can find regarding the disaster declarations (though they have expired, the dates may still be pertinent).  It may also take a few phone calls; but, in light of the deletes on my daughter-in-laws reports, it seems to be the best course of action. 

Good luck!

Message Edited by MercyMe on 05-27-2007 04:15 AM

Message Edited by MercyMe on 05-27-2007 04:16 AM

[Anonymous]

Natural disaster, I would imagine, carries a lotta weight in a GW letter. I doubt they are gonna press you for proof, but it might raise a bit of suspicion if you're in Michigan and claiming Hurricane Katrina struck you even if you relocated from the place there disaster struck you. Cite your previous address from Florida, or wherever.

It should be on your CRs, but it wouldn't hurt to include a photocopy of something showing that previous address in the disaster zone. Photocopy of old state Driver's License, lease, utility bill, or a page from an old CR showing the previous address.

Just a single page enclosure plus your letter. You don't wanna innundate them with paper. A large stack of paper might start to feel like a lawsuit filing.