Credit Baddie

[unc0mm0n1]

Ok so I joined the Army in 04 and I had cell phone service with cingular. In 05 my first duty assignment was overseas and using my orders I told Cingular to indefinately suspend my phone service. I proceeded to spend the next 5 1/2 yrs overseas.When I got back I called Cingular (now At&T) and they said they had no record of my account. Anyway I never really worried about it until I found this forum. I requested my credit report and it said I had a deliquent account from some CA that I never heard of (merchants). I called and they said it was from the cingular phone account and was now $882. I told them I didn't have a bill for that amount and I recently started a dispute.  A couple of things. 

Does a dispute lower my credit score? I was thinking of upgrading my visa to a signature, will the dispute hurt that process? I really don't want to pay for something I didn't do, if the dispute comes back unfavorable TU said it should come off my report in December should I just wait it out? The guy said I can pay $600 and they'd mark my bill as paid or something but he didn't say they'd remove it from my report. Any advice would be great. 

[Anonymous]

A dispute could keep a lender/creditor from extending credit.

A dispute for a CA account should have no impact on your score whatsoever.

Instead of disputing with the CRAs (it would more than likely come back verified) I would send the CA a direct dispute under FCRA 623 (a)(8).  They have to investigate and let you know the results within 30 days.

Leave the bold black and fill in the blue parts.

This is a Notice of Direct Dispute with you, under the provisions of FCRA §623(a)(8)(D), of the accuracy of information you have reported to my credit file.

This is a direct dispute of credit reporting. This is not a request for debt validation/verification  under FDCPA §809(b)
             
In compliance with FCRA §623(a)(8)(D), and enacting regulations published at  16 CFR § 660.4, this Notice of Direct dispute includes:

 Identification of the specific information being disputed:

           (specify the account number, and the specific information that is disputed under that identifying account)

Basis for the dispute:

            (how the reporting was inaccurate;    was any reporting in violation of any statutory or regulatory provisions?  account or express agreements?  CRA reporting gudelines? Account not yours? etc.)

Supporting documentation:

            (all documents that support your dispute; it is recommened to also include, as part of your documentation, at least a copy of the portion only of your recent credit report showing their reporting of the disputed information was actually reported to your credit flle.  The implementing rule suggests a  showing on your credit report.)

[Anonymous]

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@unc0mm0n1 wrote:

Ok so I joined the Army in 04 and I had cell phone service with cingular. In 05 my first duty assignment was overseas and using my orders I told Cingular to indefinately suspend my phone service. I proceeded to spend the next 5 1/2 yrs overseas.When I got back I called Cingular (now At&T) and they said they had no record of my account. Anyway I never really worried about it until I found this forum. I requested my credit report and it said I had a deliquent account from some CA that I never heard of (merchants). I called and they said it was from the cingular phone account and was now $882. I told them I didn't have a bill for that amount and I recently started a dispute.  A couple of things. 

Does a dispute lower my credit score? I was thinking of upgrading my visa to a signature, will the dispute hurt that process? I really don't want to pay for something I didn't do, if the dispute comes back unfavorable TU said it should come off my report in December should I just wait it out? The guy said I can pay $600 and they'd mark my bill as paid or something but he didn't say they'd remove it from my report. Any advice would be great. 

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I had that same problem when I was overseas. What I did was refer them to the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and they swiftly corrected this problem. YMMV, but I wish you luck on disputing it.