To Challenge or Not to Challenge…

[Anonymous]

Greetings all,

I have recently started paying attention to my credit score. I have spent over a decade paying cash for everything. This was following a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I currently have no public records or collections on any of my reports. What I do have are 9 late payments on one credit card (most current late was 4 years ago). This was with NFCU of which I'm still a member with two current credit cards.

My question is, should I challenge for removal or just let this age off? Not sure if I could damage the relationship I have by doing so or if the risk is worth the reward.   

If it helps here is my journey so far: My starting FICO 8 scores averaged in the mid 500's. Three months later they average right about 700. I feel good about my progress so far, with great thanks to this forum. 

thank you in advance!!!! 

[Anonymous]

Challenging them is the wrong approach. It sounds as if they are legit, so disputing them will not help - there's nothing to dispute. You were late and they reported as such.

You can contact Navy and ask for a goodwill deletion of them. Take responsibility, point out your payment history since, and explain the measures you've taken to ensure it can't happen again.

Its a long shot and they're under no compunction or obligation to delete, but you can ask. It may take many tries, it might work, it is more likely that it doesn't, but you miss 100% of the shots you don't take...

[OmarGB9]

^Agreed. If the lates were accurate, there is nothing to challenge at all. You'd only end up hurting yourself and possibly losing the ability to dispute true inaccuracies with the bureaus in the future.

[Anonymous]

Definitely do NOT challenge. I learned that the hard way.

Goodwill is the way to go. There is a goodwill strategy on this board that may or may not help you. Just make sure when you write a goodwill letter that you let them know that it is NOT a dispute, how sorry you are, what happened to cause it, how great you're doing now, and that you appreciate their product & service. Good luck.

I used Lexington Law to challenge a bunch of stuff.......my score is lower now than it was in the beginning because of all the account updates - not sure how'd that would work in your instance of having an account that is still active.

Good luck with the goodwill!

[coldfusion]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I used Lexington Law to challenge a bunch of stuff.......my score is lower now than it was in the beginning because of all the account updates - not sure how'd that would work in your instance of having an account that is still active.

Good luck with the goodwill!

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That is not an unusual outcome when dealing with them as their usual technique is to tell you to let your accounts default and then they will  negotiate settlements.  While you may get a reduction in debt owed your credit profile is left shredded and in tatters. 

It isn't arbitrary that advocating for their or their competitors use is not permitted on this site.