topic Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax? in Mortgage Loans

Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:49:02 GMT

Ive had success with TU and experian was easy, but not getting anywhere with EQ. I called 404-885-8300 and ask for executive consumer service and get a voicemail for Dorothy. She never calls back. Today i asked the operator if there was someone else besides Dorothy and she said there are only two ladies and they go back and forth between a walk up desk and are busy?? i left a voicemail with the other lady today. I then just tried regular customer service and got a man who barely spoke english and he gave me the "creditor put the remark there and they are the only one who can remove" spill....uughhh....any other ideas? i have GOT to get these last few remarks off to move forward with my mortgage! HELP

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

lola1886 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:22:54 GMT

Hmmm...I had great luck with Dorothy. Make sure when you are leaving her a message that you leave your SSN and ask to have disputes and dispute comments removed. She called us back the same day both times saying it was taken care of and then we got the score watch alerts within the next day showing the updates.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

chan85 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Ive had success with TU and experian was easy, but not getting anywhere with EQ. I called 404-885-8300 and ask for executive consumer service and get a voicemail for Dorothy. She never calls back. Today i asked the operator if there was someone else besides Dorothy and she said there are only two ladies and they go back and forth between a walk up desk and are busy?? i left a voicemail with the other lady today. I then just tried regular customer service and got a man who barely spoke english and he gave me the "creditor put the remark there and they are the only one who can remove" spill....uughhh....any other ideas? i have GOT to get these last few remarks off to move forward with my mortgage! HELP

Just curious but what effect do dispute remarks have on your credit and the mortgage process??

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

IOBA — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:01:56 GMT

The majority of the time, the UW will not allow funding for a mortgage if there is the word "DISPUTE" anywhere on your CR. This also applies to accounts that are closed. The UW is worried that the account will surge back to life and cause you financial woes.

You can get pre-approved for a mortgage with the words there - just (usually) get the final close with the words there.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

terrymac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:05:25 GMT

Sorry to hijack, but what if the account for the dispute is paid in full?

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

IOBA — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:11:22 GMT

terrymac - sorry - no go. The lender told me recently (a week or two ago) that as far as they are concerned, it doens't matter if the account is closed and reporting as zero --- it could come back to life and bite you. So the UW will not authorize a close/final funding for any mortgage if the word dispute is on the CR.

I have one that is a CA, that reports closed, zero balance, and hasn't updated in over a yr. The CA put the word "dispute" on the account. (On the CR it says subscriber (that's the CA) reports consumer dispute.) Yes, I do dispute it cuz the CA never had the account - the OC was paid directly by more than a year BEFORE the CA put the collection on the CR. Can't go to closing with this lender. And yes, I did call the CA to ask them to remove it and they said no.

The lender said that in the last 12 months, not one mortgage has closed with the word dispute.

If you can, clear it off asap.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

terrymac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:14:59 GMT

Thanks IOBA. Now I am getting scared. It is only reporting on my EX report that the lender pulled and it was a dispute to Verizon for $161. I paid it last year and thought everything was resolved. So, do I need to contact Verizon or Experian to get this resolved?

Thanks so much..

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

IOBA — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:26:23 GMT

terrymac - I have heard suggestions both ways. If this was me, in your situation, I would contact the CB and ask them to remove the note that it's in dispute. Verizon would be the back up --- maybe GW Verizon and ask them to remove the tradeline completely.

In my case, the CA put it on the CB and wont' remove it. The CB verified it. *eye roll* Four more years, just three and half technically more years until it falls off. argh. My case is the exception, not the rule, so don't loose faith!!

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

chan85 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:55:28 GMT

@IOBA wrote:
The majority of the time, the UW will not allow funding for a mortgage if there is the word "DISPUTE" anywhere on your CR. This also applies to accounts that are closed. The UW is worried that the account will surge back to life and cause you financial woes.

You can get pre-approved for a mortgage with the words there - just (usually) get the final close with the words there.

This is why i love this board! I NEVER knew that and would have been blindsided if they brought it up in a few months when i go to apply. I will start working on it now!

I assume in the last sentence you meant get the disputes/dispute comments removed before getting to the final closing right?

I know I had to dispute some things on a now closed and PIF car loan and then some credit cards that are still open. Additonally there was a collection for a previous eviction that I disputed after PIF. Will I need to dispute them all or just the collection- even on the open accounts? What about inquiries that are disputed? Do those show as "disputed" as well in the mortgage process? Would I need a current credit report to call the bureaus to get them removed or can I just call since I know I have them already on there?

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

terrymac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:26:32 GMT

I know! I love this board too. Feeling a bit worried now because have applied for a mortgage and did not know that dispute was on it. When I paid, I asked Verizon to remove the tradeline which they did from TU and EQ. Since I couldn't see my EX didn't know it was there until the LO pulled my report. Anyway, have put on offer on a house and just waiting for all the ducks to align so don't really want to dispute with the CB. Might have to though. Even though when I called EX today, the automated voice kept asking for a report number which I don't have. Do I have to dispute to get one? Am going to try Verizon tomorrow to see if they can erase the TL from EX, if not, will just have to keep trying with EX.

If anyone has a number for EX they can private message me, I would be so grateful! Thanks a lot.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

terrymac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:54:26 GMT

OK. So I just contacted Verizon at this second, and the lovely guy says he will remove the "consumer dispute this account," statement. He is going to send out a letter to me stating that the account is no longer in dispute, so hopefully I will get that soon. Also, I have to wait for EX to report this. He says to give them 30 days or less and I am hoping less. If all goes well, I am to close on a house on Feb 24!

Don't give up folks. I am so going to be on this like white on rice.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

IOBA — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:24:11 GMT

chan85 - yes, I meant that you wouldn't get final approval for closing (although you can be pre-approved). Now would be the time for you to get all of the words "Dispute" of the CR!

terrymac - I would recommend/suggest keeping a few extra copies of that letter from Verizon. IF it is an issue with the UW, you can respond promptly with the letter from Verizon saying's taken care of. Don't offer it before it's needed - you dont' want the UW to suddenly take a closer look at the report wondering if they missed something else...ya know? Is this where I pat you on the back? You did good.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

lola1886 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:47:07 GMT

@terrymac wrote:
I know! I love this board too. Feeling a bit worried now because have applied for a mortgage and did not know that dispute was on it. When I paid, I asked Verizon to remove the tradeline which they did from TU and EQ. Since I couldn't see my EX didn't know it was there until the LO pulled my report. Anyway, have put on offer on a house and just waiting for all the ducks to align so don't really want to dispute with the CB. Might have to though. Even though when I called EX today, the automated voice kept asking for a report number which I don't have. Do I have to dispute to get one? Am going to try Verizon tomorrow to see if they can erase the TL from EX, if not, will just have to keep trying with EX.
If anyone has a number for EX they can private message me, I would be so grateful! Thanks a lot.

I signed up with the Experian.com site to get the report number and contact info. I think the intial trial is only $1. When I called I had to go through speaking to their first line representatives, but after explaining the situation they transferred me to the dispute dept. The reps there were very helpful and basically opened an online 'dispute' to remove the comments. I had the results back that same day via email and was able to call and cancel the membership. Overall, I felt it was a dollar well spent.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

terrymac — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:05:51 GMT

IOBA, I will take that pat on the back. I have learned so much from this board. Persistance really works sometimes.

lola1886, I called EX CB this morning to have the dispute comment removed just like you wrote, and that should be update in about 72 hours. I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone who is going through this at the moment.

Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:02:55 GMT

Very frustrated as of today. Was informed yesterday by my lender that I had to have a 'consumer dispute statement' removed from my credit report(s). No problem with Experian and TU; however, Equifax is the problem. I disputed the accounts well over a year ago and they never removed them after the investigation. Now I am told that I must contact the creditor to have it remoed. One creditor asked me to fax in a letter which I did; however, the other, refused stating that my case is with an attorney and the only way I can get it removed is if I make a payment or arrangements. Zenith Acq sucks. Not sure how to get aroumd this. I am slated to close in 11 days.

Any advice?

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

IOBA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:50:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Very frustrated as of today. Was informed yesterday by my lender that I had to have a 'consumer dispute statement' removed from my credit report(s). No problem with Experian and TU; however, Equifax is the problem. I disputed the accounts well over a year ago and they never removed them after the investigation. Now I am told that I must contact the creditor to have it remoed. One creditor asked me to fax in a letter which I did; however, the other, refused stating that my case is with an attorney and the only way I can get it removed is if I make a payment or arrangements. Zenith Acq sucks. Not sure how to get aroumd this. I am slated to close in 11 days.

Any advice?

In this case, they hold the cards. It sounds like you will need to make payment arrangements regarding the Zenith Acq to get the dispute comment removed.

Have you contacted Equifax and asked them to remove it? Keep trying to get them to remove the comment.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:59:48 GMT

Did your lender say they wont close/fund if you have any disputed items? My bank had me pay an open collection w/ a balance that was in dispute status, but still closed/funded the loan with the 3 other collections on my report that were closed and paid and had dispute on them as well

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:19:11 GMT

There are a few disputes on my accounts. There appears to be a problem with those accounts that show a balance and have a dispute. I don't have to pay them, just remove the "account disputed by comsumer" statement.

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

izzesparks — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:09:19 GMT

thanks for the info Dorothy is amazing!

Re: Any tips for removing dispute remarks with Equifax?

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:02:39 GMT

I certainly hope she is. I called and left her a detailed message this morning. Apparently you used her. Was it recent? How long did it take for her to resolve the issue? Is there anything specific that I should have told her to help remove the disputes? Please forgive all the questions. I am at whits end and don't know what else to do. I'm scheculed to close next week and don't want to lose my house. Thanks