Paid debt, but it is still listed as an active collection account!

[Anonymous]

Account through State of Michigan for child support went to collection agency (even though I have FULL CUSTODY). They threatened jail time, so I dodged the debtor’s prison for a couple years while raising my daughter as a single father. I finally paid the balance when I graduated college and got my first “real” job.

I just pulled my annual free report from Experian, and it still lists the debts to both the collection agency and the State of Michigan as unpaid! How do I correct this? Call, email, write a letter, and who do I contact, the CA the OC, the court?

Can I have these removed somehow?

[Rebuilding69]

How long ago did you pay? It can take 2+ months thru normal reporting channels.

[RobertEG]

The debt collector had/has a statutory requirment to promplty update their reporting with the CRA as necessary to maintain its current accuracy.

See FCRA 623(a)(2).  Yuo can send them a direct dispute over the accuracy of the balance under collection, which should now show $0.

The State issue is most likely different if it is showing under public records.

Public record information is exempted from the direct dispute process,  You must dispute via the CRA, thus requiring their updated check of the public record.

[Anonymous]

I paid this off in full over a year ago.

How do I dispute? Should I do this in writing, certified mail? Can someone link to a thread with a detailed description of this specific process?

[RobertEG]

Sample format:

This is a Notice of Direct Dispute with you, under the provisions of FCRA §623(a)(8)(D), of the accuracy of information you have reported to my credit file.        ►       (If sent to a debt collector, (CA), it might be beneficial to also include the blurb

This is a direct dispute of credit reporting. This is not a request for debt validation/verification  under FDCPA §809(b)                  

(don’t let them just simply sluff it off as a meaningless  DV letter)

In compliance with FCRA §623(a)(8)(D), and enacting regulations published at  16 CFR § 660.4, this Notice of Direct dispute includes: Identification of the specific information being disputed:           

(specify the account number, and the specific information that is disputed under that identifying account) Basis for the dispute:             (how the reporting was inaccurate;    was any reporting in violation of any statutory or  regulatory provisions?  account or express agreements?  CRA reporting gudelines?  Account not yours? etc.)

Supporting documentation:            

(all documents that support your dispute; it is recommended to also include, as part of your documentation, at least a copy of the portion only of your recent credit report showing that the disputed information was actually reported to your credit flle.  The implementing rule suggests a  showing  that it appeared in your credit report)

Notes:

If you elect to use a direct dispute, you should not first file a dispute via the CRA.

A direct dispute that was previously disputed via a CRA can be dismissed without any investigation. See 16 CFR 660.4(f).

Use one dispute process or the other.