Credit Report Inaccuracy – HELP!

[Anonymous]

OK, so I find myself in a dilemma here, and would love any suggestions any of you can give. Back in December of 2007, I opened up a store charge with the Home Shopping Network (HSN). The card was held by GE Money Bank (GEMB). In December of 2008, all the HSN charge cards were switched from GEMB to World Financial Capital Bank (WFCB). All of our accounts transferred over, and HSN issued everybody brand new cards (complete with a new design and a new account number). I’d say that in February (or around then), WFCB started reporting on my credit report with history going all the way back to my original open date (12/07), and then GEMB stopped reporting all together.

 

I have credit monitoring through my bank, and received a credit alert on June 2nd.  Around the same time,  MyFico.com reported that my Fico Score dropped around 60-70 points…little bit shocking to say the least. So I pull an updated credit report right away, and I discover that GEMB (who, mind you, stopped reporting on my credit report 5-6 months prior) now is showing that my account with them is “120 plus days past due.” I was absolutely shocked. Not only is GEMB NOT holding the account anymore, but I didn’t even have a balance! Within hours, a dispute was initiated with all 3 bureaus.

 

While the dispute process was going on, I contacted GEMB. They have absolutely NO record of me. I gave them the old account number – nothing. I gave them my name and address – nothing. I gave them my social security number – NOTHING. I thought, well fine then, whatever. The credit bureaus will sort it out for me. Within a few weeks, Experian corrected the information on my report with them, and Equifax completely removed the GEMB account altogether. My credit reports/scores returned to normal.

 

Well now, I just heard from TransUnion yesterday. They’re telling me that the creditor verified the information, and that it’s staying on my report! WHAT???!!! I just don’t understand! On my TU credit report, that account shows a flawless payment history, a zero balance, with the status of “120 plus days past due” on it! I don’t know who could’ve possibly “verified” this – especially since GEMB doesn’t seem to have a record of me and also because EQ & EX already removed it.

 

I’m re-disputing it with TransUnion, but am wondering if anybody has any suggestions? This just doesn’t seem fair that I’m being punished for somebody’s lack of decent record keeping.

 

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Write a letter to the contact info shown on the Credit Report.  All creditors reported will have a contact address shown (and sometimes phone number). 

Write to GEMB, reference the account number, the TU reporting and ask for an "investigation" from GEMB.  They should either find you and fix it, or tell you they have not record of this.  Send this letter attached to your own letter back to TU if your new dispute still comes back "verified."

Write the letter now, don't wait for results.  Phone conversations don't give you anything to work with.  Also, find your statements and go back to find the statement where the account was "transferred" and paid off.  Eventually you may need to provide copies to both GEMB and TU to fix.

Lastly, if you are not getting results, then a letter to GEMB with a copy sent also to TU from an attorney gets a much different result than a letter from you.

You can also file a complaint with the BBB.  File a complaint with the consumer affairs division of GEMB.  File a complaint with the FTC due to "violations of FCRA" for inaccurate information and damage to credit.

Look up the email address to the CEO and Sr. VP of GEMB and send email complaints and request for correction to them.

The collective all the above should get something to move, hopefully    Good luck and don't give up.  Be polite, but persistent and consistant.

Message Edited by txjohn on 06-26-2009 06:31 AM