FCRA 605(a) lists all types of adverse items, and their associated credit report exclusion dates.
Section 605(a) is structured by listing four specific types of adverse items in subsections (1-4), with their specific periods and begin dates.
If an item is not listed in one of the specific subsections (1-4), it falls in the catch-all subcategory 605(a)(5), which mandates that ay other adverse item of information has an exclusion date of no later than 7 years from the date of occurence of the adverse item.
You dont contact the creditor to have the adverse item(s) excluded. The CRAs are responsible for monitoring the date of occurence of each adverse item, and excluding it from any credit report they issue after expiration of its exclusion period.
In the posted scenario, it is stated that you have a negative item that is over 7 years of age. Unless it is specifically one of the items listed in subsections 605(a)(1-4), it should haven been excluded no later than 7 years after its occurence. What is the adverse item that is still showing?
As for the repo, if a repo results in a charge to profit and loss by the creditor, then it has an exclusion date based on FCRA 605(a)(4), which is clarified by FCRA 605(c) to be no later than 7 years plus 180 days form the date of first deliquency on the account. However, in your case, since you retained the vehicle, they apparetly suffered no charge to profit and loss, which would result in the exclusion of the reported repo based on subsection 605(a)(5), which would be no later than 7 years from the date of the repo.
