Question regarding DVs/GWs (kinda)

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Hi all, new to the board but so far all the info here has been a tremendous help, ty for this wonderful resource! Anyways, I pulled my combined three credit reports and found various things I would like to DV/GW. The problem is that some of the accounts have no account number listed at all while others are largely masked with X's. I realize this may be some built in security feature.. but I figured it would be better to DV/GW the CA's first then file disputes with the CRAs if necessary. However.. I dont know how I am supposed to send the CA those letters without providing them an acct# to reference? Has anyone had this problem? Do you provide your SSN instead, and is that safe to do?

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

you don't have to provide them the complete account number. you can just reference the full name of the creditor and the partial account number. they will know which one you are referring to. Include the amount that is listed on your credit report as well.

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Do not give them your Social Security number.

Where did you pull your reports?

Just provide whatever is on your report, on mine I put something like Account # 12345XXXXX.

If you pull your annual free reports, it sometimes gives the full account number. Or if you get your reports from the CRA directly.

Anytime you pull through a 3rd party, such as myFICO or TrueCredit, it will be partially masked.

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Thanks for the advice. I pulled the three directly from Equifax. I am still a little confused now, as I am not sure what to do when no part of the acct# is provided and there is conflicting information across all three.

Heres an example: Bank of America. The acct # in all scores show XXXX and nothing else, seems like the acct# should have been longer.

Date Opened [2/2002, 2/001, 2/2002] Bal Date [7/2006, 7/2006, 7/2006] Bal Amnt [$0 $0 $0] High Limit(?) [$499, $505, $952] Acct Status [Collection, Late over 120 days, Collection]

So.. couple questions then. One, the notes say purchased or sold but doesnt say to who and the CA isnt on my CR. So, can I write BoA directly? Which balance do I reference and whats the difference in Balance Amnt, and High Limit? Also, what does bal date of 7/2006 mean? I havnt had contact with them since at least 2003.

Thank you so much for reading all of that!

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Have you never been contacted by a CA for this account?

You can just call BofA for info on the CA for this account, and also the orig. acc't #

Once you have the acc/t number, you shouldn't need the balance at all for them to find the account. The Bal Am't shows as "0" because BofA has zeroed out the account and sent it to a CA. The High Balance/Balance Date is the am't BofA let the account get to, with late fees and overlimit fees, before they charged it off.

If no CA is showing on your report yet, then BofA *may* still own the account, and has hired a CA to collect on their behalf... and that CA just may not be actively trying to collect. If this is the case, BofA might still work with you directly, which would be ideal.

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Thanks so much for your help. One more question! Would this reset the time on my credit file? Since its from early 2002ish, I believe it should fall off within the next two years or so. I'd hate to reset it, get nothing accomplished and have to wait seven more years for it to be removed

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

ceruleansoul wrote:
Thanks so much for your help. One more question! Would this reset the time on my credit file? Since its from early 2002ish, I believe it should fall off within the next two years or so. I'd hate to reset it, get nothing accomplished and have to wait seven more years for it to be removed

No, the DOFD can not be reset unless you become current on the account before charge off/ collection status.

DOFD is set by the OC.

If the OC sells the account, they have to report to a $0 balance. If they are reporting a balance then they still own the debt.

Have you pulled your free reports in the last 12 months? www.annualcreditreport.com They provide better detailed information.

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

Thanks so much for the help everyone. Yea for some reason -every- time I try and pull the TU and EQ report through the free annual one it tells me I can't receive them online and I have to mail in a copy of my SS and DL to receive one by mail. I am too impatient for that and don't like the idea of sending that info by mail. Same thing happens to my fiance too. Weird.

Anonymous · ‎06-15-2008

It could be that you've moved recently and they don't have your updated address. You may have success ordering by phone. We did that for DH when we couldn't order EQ online. Bottom line though, you may just need to send in the info. Try faxing if you want it done faster.