55 point decrease!!!!

[Anonymous]

Help!.  I just received a credit alert on Sunday which was very bad news.  Here is the story.  I paid off my husband's Zales account in September and after checking that the payment posted, the account reflected a zero balance.  Low and behold, I come to find out that there was an $11 unpaid balance that I was unaware of.  Unfortunately, I never received a phone call or letter stating that the account was past due so I never knew about it.  Now, my husband's credit score has dropped from a 686 to a 631 and I am freaking out because we were planning on applying for a mortgage in February of next year.  This is so bad especially for an $11 balance,  that is the part that is killing me the most.  I paid off the account so why would I stiff them for $11.   The account is now a year old and we have had perfect credit with them thus far.  What should I do?  Any advice anyone can offer is greatly appreciated.  I have not slept since Sunday worrying about this.    Thanks.

[pritchardhallhokie]

I would immediately call the company and ask for a PFD and tell them exactly what you're explaining here.  People have compassion! 

[Anonymous]

Daisy, call them, ask for a supervisor (nicely), and explain the mistake.  They will give you a schpiel about "two cycle billing" and about the fact that you owed interest from the time that the last statement cut until the day that you paid in full, which is the $11.  Apologize and sound confused and ask if they would please be willing to remove the late payment report with the credit bureaus because it was an honest mistake, pay the $11 on the phone with them (and pay the phone fee if they charge one), and enjoy your new house next year.

Unless you get a CSR in a horrible mood, or you threaten them in some way, they shouldn't have too much issue taking care of it for you (though it may take 30-60 days to be reflected on the credit report).

Good luck!

[haulingthescoreup]

And tell them that your application for a new home (home, not house) is in jeopardy because of this. You want them to realize that you're not just whining about an extra fee.

Don't let the slightest hint of anger show. This is grovel time.

You may have to try several times, so get your courage up and give it a try.

[Anonymous]

I have not been charged any late fees though.  They have just listed as past due for the $11.00 but have not charged me any late fees.  Here is the credit alert I received
It doesn't say past due.  It says that no more than 2 payments behind.  I am not sure if they have put a late on the credit report or not.   What does everyone think?

Account opened: 12/2009
Description: Charge
Amount in H/C column is credit limit

	Previously reported	Newly reported
Balance:	$9	$11
Past due:	$0	$0
Status:	Pays account as agreed	Not more than two payments past due
Last activity:	11/1/2010	9/1/2010
High credit:	$2,500	$500

. 

[Anonymous]

Call them and stress that other than this, you're very happy with their products and that you plan to purchase things from them in the future...

[Anonymous]

yes it sounds like its reporint a 30 day late from the look of your post

[haulingthescoreup]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I have not been charged any late fees though.  They have just listed as past due for the $11.00 but have not charged me any late fees.  Here is the credit alert I received
It doesn't say past due.  It says that no more than 2 payments behind.  I am not sure if they have put a late on the credit report or not.   What does everyone think?

 
Account opened: 12/2009
Description: Charge
Amount in H/C column is credit limit

	Previously reported	Newly reported
Balance:	$9	$11
Past due:	$0	$0
Status:	Pays account as agreed	Not more than two payments past due
Last activity:	11/1/2010	9/1/2010
High credit:	$2,500	$500

. 

---

Looks like a late to me. Oddly phrased, though. And this is a credit report.

Whether or not they charged a late fee is irrelevant to your credit report. Late fees are an internal feature of the bank. Lates on the credit report are what the lender felt obliged to report to the CRA, per their agreement with the bureaus.

When you call and beg, the first person you talk to might say no, and might even say that they can't do this because it's illegal. It's NOT illegal for them to do a favor and cease reporting, although it IS against the agreement that they sign with the CRA's. So that's why you need to emphasize that you thought you had paid it in full, it didn't occur to you to not check again online, you'll never make that mistake again, you're devastated because you're afraid that this will destroy your home purchase, and so on and so on. If the first person doesn't budge, politely ask to speak to the supervisor. If necessary, keep going up the line until you reach someone with (1) compassion and (2) the authority to pull back the late reporting.

IMO, you shouldn't be worrying about whether the late is showing on your reports or what. You need to get going with having this removed. For one thing, even when they agree to remove it, unless they go the extra mile and do a special update, it won't come off until their next regular update time, whenever that might be. That means that even if they help you out, it might delay your home purchase.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your great advice.  I will be calling them and begging them to help me out.  I have had a year of ontime payment history with them so maybe they will help me out. 

[Anonymous]

I just spoke with the supervisor and she would not help me. She said that they cannot change the payment history reported. Is there anything I can do now:?