Is it better to send registered mail or email online for disputes?

[natasjlp]

Hello,

I just started the process of repairing my credit. I have some late payments of 30+ 60+ 90+ and 120+ I need to dispute.

What is the difference if any between going to the bureau site to submit online dispute, calling and sending a registered letter? Also, should I hire someone to do this for me - what is the best way to do it myself? I have found template letters online.

Also - I just paid off a collection for under $500 before realizing I can barter for the listing to be removed from my report with payment. What are my best options?

Thanks!

- John

[Anonymous]

Your best legal protection is Certified mail and if you want the addition of return receipt to that. Registered is overkill and won't do much better for you. Online disputes you don't really have a good paper trail and its hard to prove and press the timeline issue, but with letters, you know when you sent it, you know when it was delivered and the clock starts and you have a paper trail. Personally, I recommend writing it and mailing it in if its something that you really want to make sure but minor updates or changes, you can do online (such as address, telephone, employer and so on). Hope that helps, good luck.

[oneilldn]

IMO. I prefer online, I have never had any problems. First, it faster. Second you save the money of CMRR. Just make sure you always print the confirmation page, which is your proof of submision and date and number.

[llecs]

OP, can you prove that you were NOT late?

[fused]

In general, I agree with Guardian on this one.

[natasjlp]

1 account I cannot but they (2 30 Days) happened very long ago like 2003/04 - account is closed

1 account is a student loan with 1 late payment 60 days in 06', I argued with them (gov) but they said sorry, have a nice day - don't think I can prove it. (side question - my gov loan is in forbearance now and my pay status is X - instead of OK - will this hurt my credit rating??)

1 account I maybe can - we had an agreement for payment - it is a closed account by consumer. I can get bank account statements saying I paid the same agreed amount every month for years, including now and status is 'paid or paying as agreed' but they jammed me with like 25 120 Day lates up till oct 07' even though I had been paying. I argued with the card company but they gave me some run around and wouldn't budge. What can I do?

[natasjlp]

bumping for replies - - - > is this the right section to ask all these questions?

my most important issues is a cc I am paying off 'paying as agreed" - the cc applied many many 120 days late on my account even though I had been making the agreed payment amount. They decided to take the 120 day late off in 2007 and have 'OK' for over a year now now but am sure this is affecting my credit negatively.

I think when I first closed the account I traded some nasty words with them over disputed late fees etc... regardless I think they have that 'info' on my account so any time I call they 'know it's me' if you know what I mean. Even though I have since tried to smooth things over they will not remove these 120 days late marks. They say it was because I owed a $500 payment when I closed the account. I then entered into a payment program with them not realizing they were marking 120 Days late every month for years!

Is it worth writing a GW to them, even though they know it's me. Is this a ligitimate reason for them to mark me 120 day late for years even though I was 'paying as agreed'?? Can I write something to the CRA's and what would that be?

This is really my only poor account - most of mine are in good standing - i am looking to buy a house and would really like to clean this up.

Thanks for everyones help - great information here!

[Anonymous]

---

@natasjlp wrote:

1 account I maybe can - we had an agreement for payment - it is a closed account by consumer.

---

This is one of those undefined areas of credit law. It stands to reason that you fall behind, go late, and they can report that, but continued reporting of lates even after a payment schedule is re-established in no way seems even remotely legit under any reasoned analysis. Such is the way of the credit industry who are, afterall, Satan's minions. Actually, that's not fair. Satan kicked out all elements of the credit industry.

Was your agreement for payment in writing?

[natasjlp]

alright, so I have been collecting bank statements and trying to collect statements from the CC that is now owned by the same bank as my checking account (BofA - just passed a stress test today - I guess that is good).  

It is clear that for years the same agreed amount has been electronically withdrawn from my account to pay the CC every month. So on that side I have proof and am 'good'. 

I am still waiting for a year’s worth of statements from the CC, but what I have now seems interesting. It shows that for about 8 months or so I was in an agreed payment mode of $85 a month which shows 'paid' every month, but it also shows a 'past due amount' balance of $493. This 'past due amount' stays the same every month for 8 months, then magically disappears without affecting the total balance and there was no extra payment of the $493. Just a slow consistent payment of $85 per month. 

I am waiting on the previous year of statements so I can see when this seemingly magical 'past due amount' became a reality. 

I entered into the $85 agreement over the phone unfortunately - nothing in writing. I just trusted that when I entered into a 'payment agreement' for $85 and paid it every month, that's how it would be reported. 

Confused and aggravated - statements cost $5 per month - I am now down $120 to find out if they screwed me or not. Sounds like maybe they would remove the late payments if I wrote a GW letter after I have paid everything in full?  

I also want to reopen the account when I am finished - which is soon. The account was closed by me and sounds like I have the option to reopen. I don't want them to remove the history because it is an old account.

-----------------------------

I realize this reply is a bit off the original topic and am transfering this reply to a new post in the CC forum:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=creditcard&thread.id=160312

See you there - - - >

Message Edited by natasjlp on 05-07-2009 10:22 AM

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
Your best legal protection is Certified mail and if you want the addition of return receipt to that. Registered is overkill and won't do much better for you. Online disputes you don't really have a good paper trail and its hard to prove and press the timeline issue, but with letters, you know when you sent it, you know when it was delivered and the clock starts and you have a paper trail. Personally, I recommend writing it and mailing it in if its something that you really want to make sure but minor updates or changes, you can do online (such as address, telephone, employer and so on). Hope that helps, good luck.

---

Would overnigting via UPS or DHL give you the same legal protection? When sending, I would require a signature as well.