topic Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts in Rebuilding Your Credit

EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 01:02:34 GMT

So, I just got an email from Experian indicating that the dispute of my State tax lien was deleted. Just had to see what my score was - it jumped 60pts!

Now, I was already expecting a 35pt increase for reducing my UTIL down to 0%, which means the net increase from the State tax lien alone was 25pts. Now, to get TU and EQ to do the same. I should mentiion, that the TU and EQ disputes were done online. I disputed with Experian over the phone, so I will see if disputing over the phone or by snail mail with the others will yield the same results.

For those of you fighting the State tax lien removal battle...don't give up!

So happy! Doing the happy dance all over my place right about now. One down. TWO to go!

PS. I debated if I should post this under the Rebuilding forum or the Fico Scoring forum. Since deleting the tax lien is part of my rebuilding process, I decided this was the best place.. A moderator will move I guess if it belongs elsewhere.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

CrankyDave — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:40:41 GMT

How did you go about it? Disputing it, or asking a human being nicely?

I also have a paid state lien, but it never reported on EX to begin with. They apparently stay away from public records now. I've tried simple disputes on both TU and EQ, but they both came back as verified. Which is entirely correct from their end, in the sense that it existed.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 03:24:59 GMT

From my understanding EX is, at the moment, delete happy for any dispute related to a judgement or lien.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

CrankyDave — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 03:38:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
From my understanding EX is, at the moment, delete happy for any dispute related to a judgement or lien.

I wish the other two would follow suit... My scores would be 100 points happier. I'll see a big jump next October as that lien hits an age milestone, but I really don't want to wait another dang year to see 800s across the board.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:12:57 GMT

@CrankyDave wrote:
How did you go about it? Disputing it, or asking a human being nicely?

I also have a paid state lien, but it never reported on EX to begin with. They apparently stay away from public records now. I've tried simple disputes on both TU and EQ, but they both came back as verified. Which is entirely correct from their end, in the sense that it existed.

With EX I disputed over the phone. The tax lien was from the state of GA. The GA website indicate that after the tax lien is paid, they would CANCEL the tax lien. I did receive a document from them originally which showed the tax lien cancelled after I PIF. I emphasized that they are showing the lien as paid and released, not cancelled which is incorrect. I may be wrong, but I don't think they have the option to show the lien with the correct status of CANCELLED and as such they had to remove it. Just my guess. This seemed to do the trick. They asked me if I had documentation showing the lien was cancelled, to which I answered yes. They did ask me to send in the documentation. I did not for no reason other than laziness. I don't think it will reappear now that it is deleted, but if it does, I will send the documentation.

I disputed online with all three CBs in the past and all three basically said it was reporting correctly. When I disputed it again, EX would not let me dispute online for some reason, but EQ and TU did. I've disputed three times online and got the EXACT same response all three times. I am now of the opinion that disputing liens online is a waste of time and you will have better luck getting it removed if you actually call in or dispute it in writing. I will try the call-in approach with EQ and TU soon and update this post with the results.

It seems tax liens are darn near impossible to get removed, but I don't believe they are impossible to get removed. If my approach fails after several attempts of trying the call-in method, I will switch to the snail-mail method. If all else fails, I will file a complaint - but I am really trying NOT to go that route.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

surferchris — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:28:44 GMT

Congrats!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:22:25 GMT

@CrankyDave wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
From my understanding EX is, at the moment, delete happy for any dispute related to a judgement or lien.
I wish the other two would follow suit... My scores would be 100 points happier. I'll see a big jump next October as that lien hits an age milestone, but I really don't want to wait another dang year to see 800s across the board.

Try disputing over the phone. If one person says that it is correct. Just say thank you, hang up and try later (call a different time). Also, it may be something or it may not be something, but I've also had better luck getting them to delete items when I call shortly before the call center's work day end (say 30 mins or so before the call centers close). Maybe their defenses are down more towards the end of the day? IDK, but I called in for some items I wanted to dispute during the earlier part of the day, and was pretty much turned down quickly. I called that same day, about 20 mins before the call center was to close, and pretty much got it deleted without too much fuss. Ofcourse I was asked the basic questions - is the information correct? if I had documentation supporting what I was telling them? I told them why I thought it was incorrect, but I DID NOT have documentation supporting it (at the time), though I found some later on. But by the time I found the documentation, the info had been deleted.

Call it manipulative, but I do try to sound a bit desperate and clueless as to what to do ( how I'm trying to improve my scores. How I can't get anyone to help me resolve this, but I'm hoping they would be able to help me out...blah blah blah). I don't get demanding, or angry, blame them or anything like that. I stress how I know they are limited to what they can do, but if there is ANYTHING they CAN do to help me resolve this, I would appreciate it...blah, blah, blah. Some don't give a crap, others become sympathetic and go out of their way - which is what I'm after - a sympathetic ear.

I"ve found there is ample judgement room for the customer service rep to remove items, you've just got to get to the right one who is willing give a judgement in your favor. Some have gone as far as to ask me if there was anything else I felt was wrong and needed to be removed. I have chosen not to take advantage and get greedy, so I just say no, I think that's all for now - walking that tight rope so to speak.

Another thing I actually did with EX with the tax lien was that I first disputed some personal information that was on my CR that was incorrect. Manipulative (maybe again), but I felt that if I am disputing something as insignifcant as correcting an address, the customer rep MAY feel that I am really trying to correct the report to be accurate. THEN, I figured, since they correcting/deleting that item, they are in a DELETE state of mind at that point and MAY be more open to deleting my next request, which is the item I really want them delete and not give me much push back.

Please note, I'm not getting them to delete anything that should be there (for example, lates that I know I was late on), but I want to make them more favorable to items I believe shouldn't be there.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:48:15 GMT

@surferchris wrote:
Congrats!

Thank you!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

CrankyDave — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:59:04 GMT

Yeah, that's the state-by-state thing rearing its ugly head again. As far as I know, there's no such "cancellation" wording here in IL. Mine just says "paid and released." Georgia's site says "The Department will cancel a state tax lien when the delinquent tax liability has been resolved." Technically, "cancel" means the same thing as "release" here, but it definitely has more of a "make it go away" vibe.

What's disturbing is the wording on the Illinois website - "If we issue a lien in error, we will issue a release." Not a revocation, not a dismissal, just a release. *I* have a released lien. Which implies to me that you would still have a public record item on file reading "released lien" that would be reported by the CRAs and do just as much damage to your credit score as a legitimate one. I could be wrong, but this is Illinois we're talking about.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:19:29 GMT

@CrankyDave wrote:
Yeah, that's the state-by-state thing rearing its ugly head again. As far as I know, there's no such "cancellation" wording here in IL. Mine just says "paid and released." Georgia's site says "The Department will cancel a state tax lien when the delinquent tax liability has been resolved." Technically, "cancel" means the same thing as "release" here, but it definitely has more of a "make it go away" vibe.

What's disturbing is the wording on the Illinois website - "If we issue a lien in error, we will issue a release." Not a revocation, not a dismissal, just a release. *I* have a released lien. Which implies to me that you would still have a public record item on file reading "released lien" that would be reported by the CRAs and do just as much damage to your credit score as a legitimate one. I could be wrong, but this is Illinois we're talking about.

If you haven't already, make a screen snapshot of that particular statement by state of IL, and send in that snapshot highlighting "...If we issue a lien IN ERROR..' and make that your argument - that the lien was done in error by the State of IL by their own documentation base on the fact that YOUR lien is being reported as RELEASED. Send the snapshot as your documentation. I wouldn't expect immediate acceptance for deletion, but if it is turned down, simply resend the same documentation, as it may fall in the hands of a different PROCESSOR of the dispute who may see it YOUR way. Good luck!

Having a tax lien removed is well worth the trouble we go through to have it removed considering the Fico points we gain from doing so. I figured, worse case scenario, it will fall off in the 7 yrs or so (ofcourse I will try for an early exclusion as that time draws near), but in the meantime....FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT for that lien to get removed! LOL!

You could ofcourse, just file a complaint. I think because of the verbiage of the State's website, you have a good case for it to be removed. Personally, I try not to go the complaint route unless I have no choice. I do think it is unfair that some consumers have more rights than others when it come to having state liens removed and that is an area of valid complaint, especially in-lieu of the impact it has on our Fico scores and the impact those scores have towards us financially. IMHO!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

CrankyDave — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:48:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
If you haven't already, make a screen snapshot of that particular statement by state of IL, and send in that snapshot highlighting "...If we issue a lien IN ERROR..' and make that your argument - that the lien was done in error by the State of IL by their own documentation base on the fact that YOUR lien is being reported as RELEASED. Send the snapshot as your documentation. I wouldn't expect immediate acceptance for deletion, but if it is turned down, simply resend the same documentation, as it may fall in the hands of a different PROCESSOR of the dispute who may see it YOUR way. Good luck!

Having a tax lien removed is well worth the trouble we go through to have it removed considering the Fico points we gain from doing so. I figured, worse case scenario, it will fall off in the 7 yrs or so (ofcourse I will try for an early exclusion as that time draws near), but in the meantime....FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT for that lien to get removed! LOL!

My problem is that it wasn't filed in error, I just didn't know about it until it was too late. It sat there for two years -- this was back in my "I'm too scared to look at my report" period, which most folks here have gone through -- and I paid it the instant I saw the thing. I've looked and looked, but can't find any notices from the IL Dept. of Revenue in that time period. *However*, since I can't prove a negative -- that I was never notified -- I can't tackle it from that angle. Is your suggestion to claim that since mine is showing as released, there's no way to distinguish it from a "released" erroneous lien?

The effect they have on scores decreases over time, and the 4-year mark is a biggie, which I'll be hitting next October. My numbers are decent enough on the two CRAs that are reporting the lien, but they could be 100 points higher.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 18:37:01 GMT

@CrankyDave wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
If you haven't already, make a screen snapshot of that particular statement by state of IL, and send in that snapshot highlighting "...If we issue a lien IN ERROR..' and make that your argument - that the lien was done in error by the State of IL by their own documentation base on the fact that YOUR lien is being reported as RELEASED. Send the snapshot as your documentation. I wouldn't expect immediate acceptance for deletion, but if it is turned down, simply resend the same documentation, as it may fall in the hands of a different PROCESSOR of the dispute who may see it YOUR way. Good luck!

Having a tax lien removed is well worth the trouble we go through to have it removed considering the Fico points we gain from doing so. I figured, worse case scenario, it will fall off in the 7 yrs or so (ofcourse I will try for an early exclusion as that time draws near), but in the meantime....FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT for that lien to get removed! LOL!

My problem is that it wasn't filed in error, I just didn't know about it until it was too late. It sat there for two years -- this was back in my "I'm too scared to look at my report" period, which most folks here have gone through -- and I paid it the instant I saw the thing. I've looked and looked, but can't find any notices from the IL Dept. of Revenue in that time period. *However*, since I can't prove a negative -- that I was never notified -- I can't tackle it from that angle. Is your suggestion to claim that since mine is showing as released, there's no way to distinguish it from a "released" erroneous lien?

The effect they have on scores decreases over time, and the 4-year mark is a biggie, which I'll be hitting next October. My numbers are decent enough on the two CRAs that are reporting the lien, but they could be 100 points higher.

The State probably can't prove they sent you the notice. I believe it is upon the proof of the state, not you in this case if you're to file a complaint. I could be wrong. BUT, in my case, I know that the State of GA was going through a transition period, and I had notified my tax agent that I did not receive anything- a conversation I *happened* to record btw.

I would say, my personal approach would be according to the state's website, if it is filed in error, it is updated to RELEASE. Yours is in RELEASE status. Enough said. The fact that the State doesn't distinguish between a real release and one made in error is not on you. That's their policy!

Look at it this way, if it WAS filed in error, how would you go about proving that? You would STILL have to rely on the fact that your lien is in RELEASE status, right? It is not for you or me to interpret the state's intent. Perhaps their intent IS to have PIF tax liens reported as error. So I would go with that.

Personally, I would send that snapshot of the State's statment and see what happens. In my case, sure a cancel is the result of it being released. Possibly a gray area to some, but not to me!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

CrankyDave — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:18:43 GMT

That Chase CO fell off of my Equifax report a couple months early for some reason, so that albatross of a released lien is now all that's standing between me and three spotless reports (and three 800+ scores -- they're at 813/720/718 as of today), so I think I'll talk to a rep and send them that screenshot as you suggested.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 01:49:57 GMT

@CrankyDave wrote:
That Chase CO fell off of my Equifax report a couple months early for some reason, so that albatross of a released lien is now all that's standing between me and three spotless reports (and three 800+ scores -- they're at 813/720/718 as of today), so I think I'll talk to a rep and send them that screenshot as you suggested.

Yeah, go for it for sure! Like I said, what is the worse that can happen - they don't remove it, right? Maybe it works, maybe not. If not, then wait a few weeks and try again. I for one, am rooting for your success in getting it removed. Good luck and keep us posted.

I haven't done much more yet with getting my EQ and TU tax lien removed, but don't worry, I will I'll post the results, good or bad...just so others can know what worked and what didn't. You never know, it may help someone else out even if it didn't so much for yourself.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:33:31 GMT

Congrats on the deletion! My EQ went up 46pts last week after a state lien was removed. Still working on TU & EX. Good luck!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:25:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Congrats on the deletion! My EQ went up 46pts last week after a state lien was removed. Still working on TU & EX. Good luck!

Congratulations and nice job getting it removed!

EQ is a tough nut to crack - if you don't mind me asking, how did you go about getting EQ to remove yours? Did you dispute online, by phone or by mail?

Nice point gain!

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:36:06 GMT

I submitted my dispute online with Equifax. A couple of weeks later I received an email saying the investigation was complete. I didn't submit any proof or anything. Experian has been giving me a hard time. I plan on calling them tomorrow to try to dispute over the phone. My online attempts have been unsuccessful.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:24:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I submitted my dispute online with Equifax. A couple of weeks later I received an email saying the investigation was complete. I didn't submit any proof or anything. Experian has been giving me a hard time. I plan on calling them tomorrow to try to dispute over the phone. My online attempts have been unsuccessful.

Interesting. When I disputed online with EQ, I also receive an meail saying the investigate was complete. But when I reviewed the results - it just said that it was reviewed and confirmed. Was your tax lien a Paid and Release? Which state did your tax lien originate?

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 03:46:32 GMT

Yes, my lien was Paid and Released. It is for Kentucky. They've been pretty resistant. I think they are just getting sick of me. I'm very persistent.

Re: EX deleted STATE Tax Lien, score jumped 60 pts

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:48:08 GMT

Hey! Quick update: I received the results in the mail yesterday from my online Experian dispute & they deleted my state tax lien! WOOOHOOO! Transunion is the only one I have left but they are not budging. Any new progress?