Collections

[SFLSpotter9210]

I had AT&T put a collection on me that isn’t accurate. And upon contacting them and advising as such they supposedly took care of it. Well when I did some digging I found that it was off my Equifax report but, showing paid on my Transunion and Experian reports. How long does this stay on for? And should I dispute it on those credit reporting agencies?

[Anonymous]

Generally it takes a month or two to fall off of your reports. AT&T should have sent you a ltter stating the item was being removed. You may wish to forward that to TU and EX. Good luck!

[RobertEG]

What is the inaccuracy in the reported collection?

Unless the asserted/agreed inaccuracy was that the collection itself was not proper, such as no delinquent debt in fact, then deletion of an entire account or collection is not required based on an inaccuracy in some item of information under the account, such as the current balance.

It is common for a credtior or debt collector to decide to voluntarily delete their account with only one CRA, and retain their account with others.  The issue of whether they are required to delete with all depends upon WHAT has been determined to be unverified.

What is the specific item of information that was inaccurate, and was your prior contact with them a formal dispute, or only an informal call?

[SFLSpotter9210]

First just so everyone knows I’m a current customer and always have been for 20+ years. So when I moved and purchased another home it was a charge related to a phone bill. The manager took off the amount owed but, somehow it appeared as a bad debt. When I noticed it on my reports they supposedly took care of it. But it’s still appearing on my TU, EX reports with a 0 balance but it’s still effecting my Fico score.

[RobertEG]

A creditor or business can choose to excuse or cancel a delinquent debt or charges associated with the delinquency without also deleting the reporting that is was previously delinquent.

The fact that a manger excused continued obligation to pay a debt does not also mean that it was never legitimately delinquent unless there is also a specific finding that it was erroneously held to have been delinquent.

I would contact the manager who excused the debt and additionally request that they grant a good-will deletion of their reporting that the debt was, at some time in your payment history, delinquent.  I would not dispute unless you assert that it was never delinquent.