Incorrect Reporting of Account from Equifax

[Anonymous]

I have just pulled scores and reports from all 3 CRA.

TransUnion 814

Equifax 703

When I got into the detail of the Equifax CR, I see a 2 year old item which is incorrect.  In August of 2006, during a time which I was getting a mortgage, I noticed an item being incorrectly reported from a apartment complex I used to live at.  I contacted them, they apologized and submitted a Univeral Data Form to Equifax and Experian to remove the account from my report.  After 30 days, I checked my report and it was gone from both Equifax and Experian (it was never on TransUnion).  Now, 3 years later, it is back on Equifax again and as you can see from above, is killing my score with Equifax. 

I contacted the company who originally incorrectly reported the debt and they have told me I have no debt with them and that my balance has shown zero since August of 2006 and they have the Universal Data Form on file which they previously sent to Equifax.

How do I get Equifax to take this off my credit report immediately and keep it off.  Do I have any recourse with these people.  Why do I have to keep checking my report every year and then fighting with them to take it off my report and to fix my score?

I am currently trying to refinance to keep my head above water and this bogus entry on my account does not look good to the lender and no matter what paperwork I have, they dont care, they only care what comes across the computer screen and on their reports.  Now, I am going to pay more in interest and points because these reporting companies cannot do their job.  If I do not get results, I feel like legal action is necessary against these companies.

Please give me some advice.

Thank you

[jackg]

How likely is it that with the increase in the amount of delinquencies, due to the huge economic failures in this country, that any of the CRA's will get it right?

They will have to hire and TRAIN thousands of people and there is a learning curve after that and then the drop outs becuse they don't like the job or it's determined they are incapable of doing the job.

Think about it. We are all in trouble,you have to monitor your accounts faithfully at all 4 CRA's.

[Anonymous]

I respectfully disagree and your reply does not offer a solution to my issue.

This issue has now been on my report for over 2 years without any action taken.  Regardless of the economic downturn, which I do not believe should have any impact on one's credit rating, this should have been completed the first time around.

I would like to know if anyone else has any recommendations or has dealt with a similar situation and successfully resolved in a timely manner.

Thank you

[JJF]

I have found that calling the CRA without first sending a CMRRR is worthless.  I have found that after sending two letters CMRRR, a telephone call did provide some insight into what specifically I needed to dispute.  The third dispute for the same account was done by telephone.

I would start by sending a letter to CRA disputing the item, CMRRR.  They will investigate their own records for 30 days, then send you an item stating that their reporting conforms to FCRA.  I would call after you get their response asking for more information.  

Timely manner means 2 or 3 letters between yourself and the CRA/OC with a 30 to 45 day lag between your letter and their response.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

JJF,

Thank your for sharing your experience and for the recommendations.  While it may not be the answer I was looking for, I truly appreciate your honesty and assistance.  It seems I will not be refinancing any time soon thanks to these people.

Are these agencies run by the government or are they privately own corporations?

Thanks

[smallfry]

Private. Frightening thought isn't it? Could you imagine the momumental fustercluck we would be dealing with if this were govt. run?

[Anonymous]

SmallFry,

Your comment is exactly the point I was striving to achieve....in my experience with these agencies, one would believe they are government run as they never seem to know which way is up and they always say they are looking out for the citizens when we know this isn't true.

Point...when I attempted to call them earlier today to inquire about the issue I was experiencing, the idiot who answered the phone completely disregarded anything I was saying and just attempted to sell me a monthly subscription for monitoring my score.  I repeated my question.  He repeated his offer.  I asked if he understood my question in plain english.  He repeated the offer.  I hung up.

[AndySoCal]

Sounds like this company reports regularly to Equifax. The Universal Data Form is the muanual way of fixing a trade line by creditor. This will work as long as they have stopped reporting your data to the bureau. if the company does not fix data that they send to the bureau each month the problem comes back the next time they report to Equifax. A way to tell is the trade line being reported (date reported) after they submitted the form and fixed the problem? Secondly has your account stopped being reported to Equifax by them. If so they will need to submit the form again. If the account has not being reported thye will need to fix both sources that they can report to Equifax with. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Andy,

According to the creditor, since originally submitting the UDF, they have not reported anything to EQ.  The representative I spoke to actually guess it was EQ before I even told her the name of the agency.  She told me this constantly happens with EQ and that she has no other issue with any of the other CRAs.  As a matter of fact.  Originally, the delinquent was reported to all 3 and the form was submitted to all 3 for removal of the entry.  Both of the other 2 removed it permanently.  Only EQ has it showing on their records again.

Thank you for the information and I will look at the item and see if I can determine the date reported.

I spoke with EQ on the phone yesterday and they claim they have never received a UDF for this file.

Makes me want to say Hmmmmmmm....and then ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Thanks again

[AndySoCal]

Glad to help. I will be interested in knowing how it comes out. Good Luck!