Help needed with two credit report issues! Newbie here....

[Anonymous]

Hi there, new here and I don't really understand all the terms and lingo used. I have pulled my fico score summary and after looking at my credit reports from a few months ago, I realize that an account that my husband had (but I had a card in my name) is showing up on my report as unpaid with a balance. This is an old navy credit card that was in my husbands name and I was a user of the account. This was discharged in my husband's bankruptcy but is showing up on my credit. Is this allowed just because I had a card with my name on it? My ss# was never given for this account.

Second question, I had a credit card (capitol one I think) that I settled with over 5 years ago. It reports on my account with 120+ days delinquent payments but with a 0$ balance. Is there a way I could get this off my credit report?

Any help on these issues would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to get my score up as I would like to purchase or lease a car in about 6 months and am hoping for a good interest rate.

THanks so much!

[Lasardo]

Have you considered a unsecured cc?

[annielorie]

Welcome to the cell block!!  First off if you were an AU  do two things dispute with the CRA's as not yours. Then contact the original creditor of the CC and ask to be removed as you are not reswponsible for account. Get letter send to CRAs hold letter for life. In some state you can be held accountable for a spouses debt not sure if it applies but do the aboe anyway..IMO it will probably get removed. The second thing is call and write a goodwill letter to cap one reguarding the remarks of 120days late ask if they would delete the negative remarks however sometimes they will delete the entire tradeline YMMV next get a couple of cc secured if your scores are in the tank and start making a positive history by paying on time and in full. If your husband now has decent cards with no lates or baddies get on them as an AU  Do you know your scores and what does your credit profile look like??

[annielorie]

Oh and look up thread guide to common abbreviations in the box to the right of your sacreen click it and print it good resource to have handy

[Anonymous]

Okay thanks for the responses so far...I need to look up abbreviations.  I have credit established in the form of regular cc's but I believe that those two items are really hurting my score. I also need to get my balances paid down (which I'm working on) and hopefully that combination will give me at least a 15 pt boost. 

So, should I contact these two cc's by mail or phone? thanks!

[Anonymous]

My equifax score is 652 and I believe the other two are higher but not sure as I haven't pulled them since last fall. I have no other late payments other than the old Capitol One acct. that was settled in 2007 and the Old Navy acct. that shows as open and late ( the one from my husband's bankruptcy). 

Other wise, I have several cc's all of which I've paid on time and more than the minimum payment. Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

OP here....Okay, so I contacted Old Navy and was given an address in which to send a letter disputing the account on my credit reports.  I found sample GW letters, but what should I search to look for examples of disputes? So I should also dispute with the 3 CRA's as well?  Should I initiate that online through myFICO?  Should I do all 3 at the same time?

In regards to CapOne, should I take the address from the credit report and send my GW letter to that address? Should I try calling first or just skip the call and go straight to snail mail letter?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have no clue what I'm doing! I've never done either of these things and have "hid" from my credit report for lack of a better word. However, I would really like a new(er) car and getting my FICO up as to obtain an low APR is motivating me to try and resolve these issues! Thanks again.

[annielorie]

First off dispute with all 3 Cra's as not yours . If you dont get it deleted than go on to Old navy and tell them to remove the account as you never had account with them and only were an authorized user with no legal obligation  to them as it was not your account  no good will there its just not your problem the cap 1 good will on late read threads about good will basically tell them why you were late and that yu are current and closed or current n current and to please delete the late notation  that simple dont read into it and dont get into a tizzie it will work out send these things on Monday and wait and see KK