topic Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :( in Rebuilding Your Credit

Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me!

Sadie5150 — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 02:55:50 GMT

I just received a copy of the most recent update on my Equifax report regarding this account. I was hoping someone with their master credit reporting skills, could take a look and offer advice. I feel that the way they are reporting this account is grossly inaccurate. (I'll post the reporting pics in the reply section of this post.)

First, this was never a 36 mo term loan with any payments. This was a Pell Grant "overpayment" of $183 that I was never notified about. Chances are that I didn't get it, as the time lines mirror the time that I had moved, although I had a USPS forward address filed. DofE says that there are certain pieces of mail that will not forward, and sent back to sender. (Though she couldn't tell me if any mail had returned to them)

Second, the account was submitted to the Credit Bureaus for the first time in August of 2018 (note.. 6 years after overpayment). When I got notification, I immediately called and paid, but had requested validation of the debt. Owing it, made sense, as that was again the timeframe that I moved and had to withdraw from a class I was taking.

Third, as stated above, I paid it that day, August 28, 2018. While, I've disputed this until i'm blue in the face, the credit bureaus have now reported after the August payoff, in Sept, Oct, as CA, then last month they reported 120 day late. Can they report this AFTER I've paid it off?

Forth, in "status" , it shows as collection account. Shouldn't that show as PAID? Not to mention, it's contridicting to their type of account listed as "Installment."

The one and ONLY thing they have correct on this entire account is the DOfD, which was 12/2012. I could really use some advice on this. Every time I've tried to dispute with corrections, Exquifax comes back with verified and accurate and states that the info provided is what DofE is submitting to them , and then DofE says that they are not reporting it as an installment loan, rather a paid collection. At this point, I'm afraid to pursue any corrections, as each time I've disputed, it just gets worse and my FICO drops even more. . I'll upload the way its being reported in the reply section.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Sadie5150 — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 02:59:28 GMT

This is the two most recent reporting after disputes. At this point, my question is this. If they actually do correct this account to report accurately, it would be a "collection" account, first DOFD was 12/2012, paid in full on 8/28/18. Which would actually hurt my scores any further? The way its reporting NOW (even though inaccurate), or insist they correct it and report it as a collection? I've been going back and forth with both Equifax and DofE since paying it in August. I've formally disputed and have sent letters to DofE. Both of them each claim that the other is at fault. DofE says that they are only reporting it as a collection, and it's Equifax mistake. Then of course Equifax tells me the exact opposite and that DofE IS reporting it this way. I tend to believe Equifax in the sense that DofE is reporting it as an installment, as I've seen some other posts that are very similar with the same issue as mine.

If anyone else has any adivice or knowlege to offer. PLEASE DO SO... I'm a bit desperate with a deadline at stake.

Message 7 of 8

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 02:00:03 GMT

I have a collection on equifax.

It's a medical collection.

For not me.

From a town that I've never been.

On a date that I can prove I was somewhere else.

Reporting as included in bankruptcy. (because it was... since I filed chapter 7 I decided everything should be included)

Now reporting with a DOFD after my bankruptcy (in between filing and closing).

I have been pushing for it to be removed for 6 years now. Equifax is determined to keep it in place.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

RobertEG — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:15:44 GMT

They appear in the posted screenshots to be reporting as a creditor, and not as a debt collector.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Sadie5150 — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 19:50:58 GMT

So, my question is, can they report 120 days past due, 3 months after I paid it off?

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Sadie5150 — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 16:10:43 GMT

@robertEG

Robert.. when you say they seem to be reporting as a creditor and not a debt collector, are you saying this may be incorrect? I'm confused on the entire account and have hit nothing but resistance with anyone I ask at both CRA and Dept of Ed. I paid this in full on 8/29/2018 and when I disputed the accuacy of "type of account", they verified as accurate, but added CA for 9/2018, 10/2018, and then 120 day for 11/2018.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 17:02:12 GMT

Are you other reports showing this (transunion,experian)?

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Sadie5150 — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 17:07:23 GMT

No, only Equifax. Experian has it listed as a paid collection with last reporting in 8/2018 and no payment history. Never reported to Transunion. Equifax had account listed as an installment loan and it was not. So, I disputed those details and instead of correcting, they updated as verified and then added the additional months of delinquency.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 17:24:06 GMT

If it were me I would dispute one more time, with equifax, through certified mail with a note with all that is wrong with the acct. plus send a copy of the reciept of the full payment, if that does work, do a complaint with FTC.

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 17:29:39 GMT

Also i would get Dept of Education to send you a acct statement for this acct and send that along with your dispute. Hope this helps ! Good luck!

Re: Equifax and Dept of Education are going to be the END of me! PLEASE HELP :(

Sadie5150 — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 17:35:02 GMT

I filed a complaint through CFPB after exhausting all other options (Dispute with CA, direct dispute with DofE) and Equifax responded to that complaint with "Department of Education has verified account as accurate." Although, I specifically asked them for detailed information, such as proof this account was a 36 mo installment loan, when it was NOT. It was an overpayment from 2012, and I paid immediately when it showed up on my CR in 8/2018 with all of the false payment information, etc. I was furious when the CFPD accepted their response and closed the case without any further response from me. CFPB is absolutely no help at all. When complaint was filed on Dept of Ed with CFPB, they didn't even investigate this with them. Rather, sent me a response that same day, telling me to communicate directly with DofE and closed that case too. It's wrong on so many levels.

I think I'm just going to have to file a civil suit to get this corrected. Will now have to endure several more hours of investigating how and where to file such a case.