Getting a CC to report

[Anonymous]

My oldest and only open CC is not reporting on two of the three CBs. I had disputed a late payment on the CC and the CBs could not verify it in time because this bank is really slow, I suppose. Oddly, EQ removed just the late, but EX and TU removed the account itself (even though I had confirmed with them while disputing that they would only remove the late, not the account itself, if they couldn't verify it in time), so the latter two scores have taken over a 60 point dip. I have been trying to get the bank to reinsert the card for over two months now, but it is not happening. They keep telling me they have submitted the info to the CBs, but the CBs tell me they have received nothing and the only way is for the bank to reinsert it. When I tell EX that the bank tells me they have done their part, EX telss me to talk to the "EX data representative" at the bank, but the bank says that person does not talk to clients and that they have already resubmitted the information and that it could take 60-90 days for it to show up in the CRs (with a tone betraying annoyance at my repeatedly asking them about the process and reminding them that the CBs have received nothing and that the CBs should be able to at least see the electronic update pretty much the same day). I waited for the card to show up on Aug 1, Sep 1, and now Oct 1, but nothing! The card itself is a Visa issued by the bank.

Any advice on what might be the problem or how to get this card reported? I did get an AMEX card from a different bank last week, but I suspect that that will not start reporting until next month. In any case, I do want the first card to report for its credit age.

AV

[haulingthescoreup]

Which bank is this?

-- lousy customer service, btw. Their attitude should be something along the lines of, "We've checked, and everything looks OK on our end, but since it still isn't showing up, we're going to pursue this."

While you're waiting, be sure to confirm that your demographics (name spelling, address, etc) all match up, but since the account used to report before the dispute, it shouldn't be that.

[Anonymous]

University Federal Credit Union.

Thanks for the reply. I'll check the name etc. again to make sure there is no discrepency.

If this doesn't get fixed and my new AMEX starts reporting next month, I am thinking my scores will come back up. The AAoA will hardly be affected by the new card and my oldest CC date even now remains unaffected because previously closed/blocked UFCU cards do show up in the report. The current 60+ point hit is because I have no open CCs and that makes the "utilization" and"types of credit" take a big hit. I do realize that I should try to get the UFCU card eventually reported as open to preserve my credit age in the long-term, but for now my EX and TU scores should jump right back up to my EQ score once the AMEX starts reporting. Does this sound right?

AV

[haulingthescoreup]

Well, the problem will be that until your CU card reports to all three, your length of history and/or AAoA (average age of accounts) will still be shorter on TU and EX. So those scores should get closer, but I don't know that they'll be all the way back yet.

Since you said that you got your new Amex from "another bank", I assume that means it's a revolving credit card, one with a CL, rather than an American Express-issued charge card like Green, Gold, Platinum, etc., correct? If so, that will also help, because they generally update immediately (on their statement date) than four weeks later, as AmEx itself often does.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Shouldn't the credit age (the oldest CC opening date) be the same on all three as all of them are reporting old blocked UFCU cards (all associated with the same credit account and opening date but listed as separate entries)? I didn't think the credit age was calculated as the age of the oldest *open* account, is it?

The AAoA will get somewhat affected but I calculated that the hit will just be a few months without affecting the number of years as I have had several old closed CCs over the years.

And yes, the new bank card is a revolving CC with a CL. They did say they will update this week, but I just don't trust anyone anymore.

AV

[haulingthescoreup]

I wasn't sure if the one not reporting was your oldest, and if not, how much effect it would have on the AAoA.

[Anonymous]

ok, thanks. And guess what, I just noticed a few minutes back that the elusive UFCU card surfaced on EX after all. I had asked them last month to block the card and issue me a new one as that had in the past caused the new card to promptly report at the beginning of the next month. That seems to have finally worked! My EX FAKO (on an 830 scale) just went up by 26 points and I suspect the FICO should be close to EQ as the two reports are nearly identical now.

TU isn't reporting it still, but I'm hopeful it will happen soon.

Thanks again for your time, Hauling!

AV