My journey. Perfect credit from 1972 to 2000. Started a consulting business and got caught with the 2001 disaster. Put me out of business and a BK7. My business created many relocations for me and a credit file/bureau challenge. Seemed the addresses never seemed to catch up and the BK raised havoc. Finally after thirteen years I was able to get all the files correct. The following is my record of work related to each of the data collection agencies: Experian [EX] (4 disputes), Equifax [EQ](3 disputes), Trans Union [TU] (1 dispute), Innovis (1 dispute). LexisNexis (1 dispute) and ChexSystem (no disputes). Frankly, Experian and Equifax seemed to work against me on legal challenges. Finally, it was necessary to explain to them the law and my willingness to engage the services of legal counsel (this was not a blustery threat - it became a matter of principle). They were total pains. All the other agencies were very professional and followed the process as written into Federal Law. The other four also showed respect and were polite. I knew from prior experiences that EX and EQ would be a pain and fortunately they did not let me down as I might have been disappointed! The on line worked for TU but the EX and EQ made me use snail mail (also had written documentation and USPS mailing tracking numbers that I could use as eveidence in court). Either I am dumb or they are? Many of you have posted different difficulties or none. EQ told me I had to load either Google Chrome or Firefox as their online system did not like Internet Explorer (say what?). I went to paper and resolved it that way. I was informed that telephone was acceptable once I had a case/file number. Tried that and the agent made the changes with the EX and EQ systems reversing their work out two days later. Totally a lot of nonsense. My actual credit file of vendors did a great job of reporting and were correct. It fell to "personal information" [telephone, address, name, and related]. It scares me that it takes so long after a BK. So I offer to people, start as early as you can and hound them on legal inaccuracies. Do NOT give up! No games as the law does allow them to seek you out and process the dispute as a false claim. Hope this gives those of you in a reporting challenge some knowledge and support. Do NOT put up with any reporting nonsense, stay your course as it will work out in the end!!! Today my FICO '04 Scores are EX 800, EQ 800 and TU 810 so the time spent was well worth it. My last challenges to clean up personal information started in May 2014 and is completed in October 2014. It feels good.
