topic Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed? in Rebuilding Your Credit

Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:13:13 GMT

I'll try to keep it as short and concise as possible. My old BoA account was flagged for suspected fraud activity for the amount of ~$250 and they closed all my bank accounts (BoA and WF). Was going through a rough patch which messed up my banking options and my credit. This was in January 2013

I found out about chexsystems when I tried opening an account at a credit union. Didn't find out about EWS until I got rejected from other banks (BBVA, Treid to get an account twice in 2014, once in 2015, and once in 2016).

I do have a checking acocunt at the moment, so waiting the 5 years for chexsystems/ 7 years of EWS for these entries to fall off wasn't an issue. However, I am starting professional/grad school next summer. The company I curerntly work at has a partnership with a CU that uses chexsystems and I am looking to get an account established there ASAP before I start school. Here is my situation.

I unfortuantely no longer have the letters I got from BoA and WF saying they were closing my account, but I know that was sometime between Dec 2012 and Jan 2013. I know this because I have my copy for the cashier's check that I purchased at BoA to pay the amoutn I owed. Chexsystems says my account was reported on Feb 1st (paid in full) and the closure date is in august/2013. Further, the amount owed that is listed on Chexsystems is not the amount that I paid at BoA. The Chexsystems amount is lower. I paid an amount that I received from BoA in their letter. I'm trying to figure out what to do.

Getting the BoA entry removed from Chexsystems is my current priority in order to qualify for the CU. Waiting until August is a possibility, but since I'm moving, I'd rather this be my last choice. Now, I was considering writing a GW to BoA ( describing situation, apologizing, lesson learned about banking privileges, account was paid in full immediately) and hope that they choose to remove my accounts from Chexsystems and EWS. Is this a viable option? Is there a good template that I can use and amend?

My second option would be to dispute it through chexsystems. However, I am not entirely sure how I woud go about it. Could I dispute it due to the amount I paid vs. what is shown in the report? Or could I argue that my account was closed on Jan 2013 and not August 2013 (date when closure was reported). My main concern here is that I don't want the clock to reset on this issue (since it has already been 5 years). Or is that not the case?

I am waiting to get back my EWS report to see what it shows. But I was wondering if the same dispute would work for EWS (assuming the clock doesn't reset on the account). I have been working hard to rebuild me credit and regain my banking privileges, and I would like to sort this out before I move later this year.

thanks

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:19:46 GMT

There's a lot of text there but no real info: what exactly did this "rough patch" entail and what did you end up doing?

If it was something like check kiting, it may not be possible for us to give you advice here. If it was an actual difference in opinion on you having done what is legal but that BoA frowned upon, may be a different story.

Also, you didn't mention why you had to have an account with that CU. Is this a requirement of your job/program, or just something you'd like to have?

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:35:43 GMT

I thought I gave enough details. I deposited a check and cashed it immediately but the check didn't have enough funds and my account got flagged immediately. I was unemployed during that time if that matters. That was 5 years ago. I've managed to find a good job and I've working to fix my mistakes from that time. I am not trying to make a sob story, I was just explaining the facts.

I was looking at that CU because of my current job. Once I leave this job I won't be able to open an account there. I was looking to get one to establish a relationship, hopefully qualify for their credit cards, and refinance a car loan I currently have that has a horrible rate, but that I pay on time every month. I've managed to open some CC with low limits, and have been paying all of my bills on time. I can't go back in time and change my financial situation, but I can definitely work now to improve my future one. Hence why I am here looking for advice on how to navigate this issue.

thanks

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:39:51 GMT

Was the check from yourself to yourself? If so, that's one of the reasons CS and EW exist and unfortunately that's going to be tough to dispute.

This is a sucky situation for you for sure, but CUs are member-owned remember and they tend to be a bit more conservative on this stuff only because CS and EW both have a very good track record of reducing fraud situations. I know a few folks in CS or EW and they can't get in with CUs even with branch manager friends, etc. But they do get EO override at some larger banks.

I wonder if that CU has other membership options, like donating to a charity, etc?

Please do follow up, I've heard so little about CS and EW disputes that I personally don't even know where to start! When did you get your free annual report from both of them?

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:46:57 GMT

Also, FYI, some threads on BOA and Chex and fraud:

Wow, there are a massive number of posts on BoA, Chex and fraud! I had NO idea this was so common.

Also this post says you can dispute it with Chex if no fraud was proven. I would try GW with BoA first, and that dispute second. If the fraud wasn't proven, then tell them to delete it.

Looks like writing a GW letter (saturation) to BoA may get it removed. This post shows one person had luck emailing BoA.

Some of those threads mention a 5 year reporting period for CS so that might be sorta helpful.

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:52:16 GMT

Thank you. I did read through some of those before posting. That is where I got the idea for the GW letter. There are also some online articles that describes how to dispute very vaguely. I was hoping someone here had a better idea of how to go about it. It has been 5 years since that incident but there are still 8 months left on my chexsystems. So while disputing the entry could be an option I don't want the clock to "reset" and have to wait another 5 years.

CUs are defintely tough to get. That is why I am trying to take advantage of this benefit I have of working at my company. This CU explicitly states it uses Chexsystems, and I already meet their other qualifiers (working at my company).

Thanks for the help. I'm hoping addtitional people can continue helping.

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 04:16:45 GMT

I had a very similar situation to you, BofA with "suspected fraud" even through there was no fraud, I was just poor. I tried both contacting BofA over the phone to have them remove and disputed it with Chexsystems. No luck with BofA or the dispute. However I tried disputing again last year and never heard back and forgot to check it. Fast forward a year and the account was removed 1.5 years before it was due to come off!

I've been without a bank account for the last 3.5 years and I almost didn't believe it when my Chexsystem report came back clean. Ran out and opened a Bank of the West account with no trouble. I would recommend disputing it if you don't get anywhere with BofA.

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 18:27:09 GMT

when you originally disputed with chexsystems, do you know if that restarted the clock with the issue? Meaning, was the entry validated and then you have to wait another 5 years for it to remove it? You managed to get it removed so that is fantastic! Whate strategy did you use?

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

stellar — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 22:13:48 GMT

What is the name of the credit union you're trying to get into? Bc you may not need that job to gain membership.

Chex is pretty hard to have things removed.

Most people just end up getting checking accounts with banks/credit unions that don't use Chex in the meantime until it falls off (5 years).

You can also be denied a checking account if you have too many inquires on Chex, if you have tried to open many checking accounts, they put an inquiry for each attempt.

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

sueblue34 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 03:18:58 GMT

If they have you in Chex or EWS for suspected fraud this is normally due to check kiting, fraudulent check use or has something to with fake checks. They will not remove any BofA will not remove Fraud notation under any circumstances. No sense of disputing as any acct flagged with fraud they keep records on and will send you a copy of what you did that warranted that flag. Your only option is waiting that time frame out. No way around it

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

sueblue34 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 03:22:17 GMT

Forgot to mention if it was from a check written and the funds were not available and the check bounced they would list the reason as account abuse. The fact that they put suspected fraud 100% means there was something wrong with the check. My cousin is a branch manager so I know this for a fact

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 17:59:06 GMT

Thanks for the response. I figured that could be the case but I'm still going to try first with BoA. The incident was 5 years ago. If they don't want to remove it, I was wondering if it was possible to dispute the closure date.

Chexsystems says my account was reported on Feb 2013 and close on August 2013

I just got my EWS report and it says my account was closed on Jan 2013 ( the date I paid the amount I owed to the bank for which I still have the receipt) and the date for last status chanage was March 2013.

Would it be possible to dispute with chexsystems the date of account closure to have it move to Jan 2013 so that it can fall off next month?

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

fishbjc — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 19:20:27 GMT

CHEX SYSTEMS is typically right on target with their removal dates.

As I've said, sometimes bad things happen to good people. You've done your 'time' and you should see a removal in the near future. I was in CHEX due to an account closure. We closed our bank, moved, and forgot to stop the auto on our sewer payment. $32.

Dollar Bank REFUSED to remove the item in Chex, but they did write a letter stating it was taken care of. I provided it for future banking and it was no issue to get new accounts.

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

sueblue34 — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 22:17:03 GMT

I would suggest you wait it out a month or two difference isn’t going to matter. Besides at this point it’s better to let sleeping dogs sleep!!

Re: Need help with Chexsystems and EWS- suspected fraud activity almost 5 years old. How to proceed?

sueblue34 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:23:31 GMT

+1

CS and EW will not bite.

You will only have a chance if it was for account abuse like clean overdrafts but anything related to fake checks and check kiting ... just sit out the 5 years