sl wrote:
1. I disputed two items on my Credit Bureau with EQ: 1) The way Midland Collections was reporting. They were showing me 120 past due with a zero balance. I requested they show Paid in Full. It did not change and my score dropped six points.
I am no authority, sl, but from my own, recent, experience with such things, you have to dispute this with the original creditor. Only the original creditor (per Equifax and Experian) can change the status of an account, on your credit reports. Disputing this with the CRAS, most usually, accomplishes nothing more than a verification of the information the OC is providing them.
2. I disputed the way an account was reporting 30 days pays due Benchmark Furniture - payment was posted to the wrong account and was supposed to be fixed. Well, EQ put a dispute in on the wrong account...they showed it on my Dillard's account - so that is unresolved.
Dispute this with the reporting CRA. If an online dispute doesn't correct this, proceed with a phone call, and if that doesn't work, write them a letter and include a copy of the page that shows the mix-up, then send it to them certified mail. Keep copies of everything you send. Also, never be afraid to dispute! I must have disputed a hundred times and never noticed my score drop because of it. When my score dropped following a dispute, it was usually because the information was updated and worked against me.
3. I sent a PDF letter to a collection agency (CPA) and they said they are no longer servicing the account so I went to Time Warner and asked for PDF and they declined to work with me. I pulled my CB yesterday and the collection account is now gone.
What reason did Time Warner give you for refusing to work with you? Did they tell you that they no longer hold the account? Did they tell you that it was assigned to someone else, such as the CPA? It could be that the CPA deleted the file, and that's why you were told they are no longer servicing the account; but then too, they may have passed the debt on to another CA who simply hasn't reported it as yet.
Again, I am no authority, and I most certainly hope some far more knowledgable than I will respond to this. In the meantime, hang in there, you'll eventually get this all cleared up. Just don't give up and take nothing for granted!
mercy