Getting Old Positive Accounts Removed from Reports

[Anonymous]

I have two items that are in positive standing that I need removed from my reports. I know it’s not wise to do so, but the caveat is my long-deceased grandmother is listed as a co-signer on both of them. The people in charge of her estate are completely untrustworthy, and given how old these are I’d just as well get them off.

Item #1 – Credit Card, Opened 10/2004, closed February 2005 (these are the actual date)

Open Dates:
Experian:             10/2004
Equifax:                                10/1/2004
TransUnion:       10/7/2004

Date of Status:
Experian:             9/2/2006
Equifax:                                6/2006 (listed as “date of last payment”)
TransUnion:       6/1/2006 (“last payment made”)

Last Reported:
Experian:             5/2011
Equifax:                5/1/2011
TransUnion:       5/19/2011

The account was closed and paid in full on 2/15/2005. These dates from 2006 make no sense, and there’s no reason they should’ve been last updated in 2011.

Item #2 – Auto loan, Opened 10/2004, closed December 2005 (these are the actual dates)

Open Dates:
Experian:             10/2004
Equifax:                10/1/2004
TransUnion:       10/30/2004

Date of Status:
Experian:             3/2006
Equifax:                1/1/2006 (“date of last payment”)
TransUnion:       1/17/2006 (“last payment made”)

Last Reported:
Experian:             3/2006
Equifax:                                3/1/2006
TransUnion:       2/1/2006 (Date Closed: 2/1/2006)

Experian says this account is Open/Never Late.
Equifax does not have a closed date.

I have no idea what to do with this one, considering 2 of the 3 bureaus think this is open for some reason. At this rate it will be on there forever.

Any suggestions here? How can I get their status updated to closed and get these two things taken off for good?

[MarineVietVet]

Hello and welcome.

I'm not sure what your concerns are. There is nothing anyone can do with this information.

Generally (but not always) closed accounts in good standing will report for about 10 years from the closing date. This means the CC account should stop reporting by the end of 2/2015 and the car loan by the end of 12/2015.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your response.

The reason I laid out the specific information is because of the way this stuff is being reported to the 3 bureaus.

For the credit card: Why would it show my last payment in 2006, if it was in fact 2005? Why would the statuses have been updated in 2011? Does this mean they won't "fall off" until 2016 or 2021?

My other concerns are the fact the auto loan is still listed as an open account on 2 out of the 3 bureaus (so it will fall off of TransUnion in December 2015, but not the other two). There's been no activitiy since 3/2006, so the OC isn't reporting correctly since their loan was paid in full back in 1/2006.

Either way, the info isn't correct. My grandmother's name is still listed on the accounts as a co-signer, and she has been deceased since 9/2005. Anytime I move, she inevitably "moves with me." The only way to remedy the situation is to have the two items removed from my reports.

[TheGardner]

Closed accounts can not be manipulated or reopened by the estate. Any credit card use would be fraud.

Auto loans aren't a revolving debit so no new debit can be added to an open auto loan that is paid off.

for the above you have nothing to worry about.

Now, the account that reports open you can dispute and will be updated as closed or possibly deleted.

Contact the creditors and ask them to remove the trade lines , some may remove early if there is no negative information reporting on the accounts.

Accounts that you were in fact an authorized user rather than co borrower (most credit cards) dispute as not responsible.

If they are all in good standing and reporting 0 balance these accounts being removed will greatly decrease your average age of accounts and likely your oldest account age hurting your score rather than helping.

Good luck!

[TheGardner]

By the way, I am not sure what you mean about her showing on the account and moves with you. I have had joint auto loans and mortgage neither show my wife's name on my reports.

[MarineVietVet]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for your response.

The reason I laid out the specific information is because of the way this stuff is being reported to the 3 bureaus.

For the credit card: Why would it show my last payment in 2006, if it was in fact 2005? Why would the statuses have been updated in 2011? Does this mean they won't "fall off" until 2016 or 2021?

My other concerns are the fact the auto loan is still listed as an open account on 2 out of the 3 bureaus (so it will fall off of TransUnion in December 2015, but not the other two). There's been no activitiy since 3/2006, so the OC isn't reporting correctly since their loan was paid in full back in 1/2006.

Either way, the info isn't correct. My grandmother's name is still listed on the accounts as a co-signer, and she has been deceased since 9/2005. Anytime I move, she inevitably "moves with me." The only way to remedy the situation is to have the two items removed from my reports.

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I realize it's easy for me to say that all this is very minor but it really isn't anything to worry about.

But I understand your desire for correct information. Reports from third party sites (including myFICO) often don't have the most complete information. If you pull your free reports from annualcreditreport.com you should have all the information you need.

[RobertEG]

To answer your basic question, contact the creditors and ask them to delete the accounts.

[marty56]

IMHO as is it old and in good standing, I would leave it be.  If you are worried about ID theft, I would use a good credit monitoring service.  It is possible if you dispute the account info the CRA may just delete the TL since it is closed.