Dispute with collector or Equifax?

[Anonymous]

I have an old collector that I paid a year ago. On the Experian and Transunion reports it is showing as Paid in Full and closed. On the Equifax report, it shows more than 120 past due and open. 

Who do I take this up with Equifax or Portfolio Recovery Assets? 

[RobertEG]

Entirely your option.

The only items that are excluded from the direct dispute process, and thus must be disputed via a CRA, are those related to cedit inquiries, personal identifier information, and public record information.

If you dispute, I would recommend the direct dispute process, thus avoiding the uncecessary back and forth between the furnisher and the CRA as middle-man.

I would suggest that prior to filing a dispute, you contact them and make an informal request that they update in their next reporting cycle.

If paid, their collection should be closed, and is most likely a simple oversight.  You can avoid having a pending dispute flag posted to your file should they decide to notify the CRA of the dispute.  I would reserve a dispute if they dont correct in their next regular reporting.

[youdontkillmoney]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have an old collector that I paid a year ago. On the Experian and Transunion reports it is showing as Paid in Full and closed. On the Equifax report, it shows more than 120 past due and open. 

Who do I take this up with Equifax or Portfolio Recovery Assets? 

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^^^

I'd write a letter to both and dispute it. It's like you and someone else standing in different lines at a store to see which one goes faster.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply. 

I called Portfolio Recovery Assets who said they sent "the same letter to all three reporting agencies" and that once that's sent out, they don't do updates. She recommended I contact Equifax. I doubt I still have the letter confirming that I paid this debt (I am terrible at this stuff, I know) so I guess my next step will be to contact Equifax. 

[RobertEG]

You should not do both a direct dispute and a dispute via a CRA.

If you file a direct dispute, of course the furnisher receives it, and is required to investigate and respond directly to the consumer.

If you file via a CRA, they forward to the furnisher, which also compels an investig\tion and response back to the CRA as opposed to the consumer.

One basis for dispute, one requirement to investigate. 

The direct dispute rules specifically provide for dismissal of any direct dispute that has also been disputed via a CRA.

Pick one or the other, as both have the same required investigation and response periods.

They are apparently asserting that their "letter" was an update of the information, and thus they have complied.

If it does not show in your credit report after within the next few weeks, then pursue via a dispute.