Help wanted - getting help for credit report (where to go)

[LynneSin]

Ok, I am NOT asking anyone for advice on how to fix something. I just pulled my credit report and FICO stuff and found it to be a bit lower than I expected. And I found a charge-ff against me for like $150 (something I could easily have paid off) that is holding me back credit-wise.

I don't know what the charge is from but I would like to get it cleaned up and removed. Everything else on my credit is stellar looking so this entry is going to hurt me and I'd like to dispute it. However, I don't want to spend thousands of dollars clearing up a $150 charge-off. I want to find out who put it on there, where it came from and dispute it since I have no clue why it is there.

My concern is this - I know there are people out there that are non-profit and can work with your credit and then there are people who are out to milk you dry of every penny you own to supposively 'clean-up' your credit.

Has anyone worked with the good folks that is trustworthy or have another avenue of how I can dispute this charge?

Thanks!

[Crazy Dave]

1. See if it's listed on all three of the agencies first

That may hold all the answers you need right there. They've been known to screw up from time to time. Sometimes the agencies reports are so different from one to another you'd think it wasn't even the same person.

Good luck

[LynneSin]

5. It is

My concern is why would I have owed $150 and for what? I had some medical work done back then and I know that I paid off everything pretty promptly so I can't imagine what this charge is for and why I was not aware of it until 2006.

I'm not a credit slacker - I get a bill, I pay the bill usually sometime within the month

[Crazy Dave]

6. It shouldn't be a problem if it's just a mistake

Plus you are allowed to sue businesses if they put or leave information they know to be false on your report.
I saw some good advice from the other posters and even a link. I got in trouble financially one time and went through an agency sponsored by the United Way. It took about two years for things to get back to normal, then my ex got furniture, phone service and pre-approved credit cards in my name so I was harassed and had to do battle with the banks, bureaus and merchants for yet another two years. During that time and up till now they've never even sent her a nasty letter and law enforcement has only yawned about it.

[LynneSin]

7. Thanks!!

I'm looking at it still and I'm just thinking that someone had a charge leftover from my medical treatment but for some reason the bill was sent someplace other than my home address. I mean, $150 isn't something that would bankerupt me and I would have paid it pretty promptly if I had received the bill.

I'll start with the credit unions and work my way through there. I mean, my rating is high enough to get a home loan but I was hoping for a better fico score so I could get a better interest rate.

[jandrok]

2. The reporting bureau should provide you some information...

...like who the original creditor was. You can probably work directly with them to clear up any issues. If the debt was small like that, they will most likely work with you to resolve the problem.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. For starters, dispute the charge-off

Notify the credit bureau that you believe the entry is in error. That sets in motion a process where they must identify the creditor who made the report so that you can investigate it. In most instances the credit bureau is also required to note that the charge-off is in dispute.

The FTC has consumer guidelines here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/repair.htm

[radwriter0555]

10. That's right, Absolutely DENY the charge is yours. Deny, deny, state flat

out it's not yours, never was, couldn't POSSIBLY be yours.

Ask them kindly to immediately remove it from your report within 30 days please. That should actually do it.

So check all 3 reporting agencies, (it's a real pain in the ass) and if it's on all reports, then send the same letter to all three agencies.

This is just business, don't lay any blame, just state the simple fact it's not yours and would they remove it right away since you're trying to buy a house (even if you're not).

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Had two credit card companies on my report of accounts I had closed

and closed YEARS ago. So, I called the CC companies and made sure they sent me a letter of account closed...one of which I had received the same letter when I closed the account years ago.

Anyway, point here is just call the company where the charge off is from, and get it resolved AND be sure to request a written confirmation of the transaction completed.

And if you're not sure who the charge is from, look more closely at the report. I had to find out via Internet by using the major name listed which was GEM something company.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. You can dispute the charge electronically.

Go to annualcreditreport.com (or something like that) and then view your credit reports for free.

There are tabs next to the charges, where you can dispute the charge. If the company charging you does not justify the charge within a certain timeframe, it should be removed from your credit report.

[Buddyblazon]

9. Go to...

www.mycreditkeeper.com


I use them. They report all three companys. I order one from them each month. They're cheap. EXTREMELY detailed. The report will show whats good....whats bad....what to change...what to keep doing....why it effects your credit the way it does.

The report you get will be well over 30 pages. I just find it fascinating reading over it each month. Things I never thought effected my credit. Like everytime they pull your credit to check it...say when I was trying to refinance my house. The report was saying it was a about a 4pt ding everytime!

Anyway. Check them out...all of you should check them out. They were my first move in getting smarter about my finances. You just HAVE to know your credit.


On edit:

Dispute it yourself. Use the information on the report you get at the link I gave you. Do a little legwork...and call them. However...a charge off is a charge off. If you didn't actually have an account with them you can probably dispute it. But if you did...and they charged it off...all that will help is time. I'm not sure how much time. But I have one from 8 years ago when I could give a rats ass about my credit. I have no idea when it will finally disappear.

[LostinVA]

11. PM me, Sis