Trying to buy house/need help ASAP with possible error

[KoolAid]

Need help...

I've been in the market for a house, & when we went back on April 17th, it said I had an unpaid collection. I called them up (the CA) & paid the measley $32. A few days later is when I found this site.

My first problem came up recently when I noticed that even though I paid them on April 17, the last "reporting" to this account was on 08/09. When I called them last month, to ask why it took so long to report it, they claimed "We report at the beginning of each month. It was the CRA's that didn't update it till then." I called them on their BS saying "I paid several things that day, & all were reported on 05/09 except yours. It took several months to do this." I asked that they remove the collection from my record because of this, in which they said "We're not allowed to due to a contract with the CRA's." I asked them for a copy of that contract, in which they denied me. Nor could they provide me with a link to any document online that stated this, & I called them out on that too.

Today, almost 5 months after we first checked my report on this, I notice what MAY be a reporting violation that has been on there all this time. The report says:

Reported: 08/09
Open: 06/07
Last-Act: 04/09

Limit/HC: 119
Balance: 0

Past-Due: (nothing listed)

Terms: 1 M

# Months: 01

30/60/90 History: 0/0/0

There was also a "9" under the 01 in months, & below that was "08/09 9"

So my questions are:
1: If I paid back in April, & the last activity says 04/09, why/can they report it in 08/09 & will doing so reset the time limit on the account (meaning is it now only 1 month old vs 5 months)? Can it REALLY take the CRA's that long to report it? (all 3)

2: Am I correct in seeing a violation in the Terms: 1 M section when I NEVER agreed to any terms?

3: Are they full of bs when they say they can't delete any records?

4: What would be the best plan of action?

My credit score is SO close to where I need it to be (the med fico was 589 this afternoon). In order for me to get the loan, I need a min 620. What's the fastest/easiest way to get this cleared & my score upped ASAP? I want this collection off my records cause of their incompetence.

[KoolAid]

Anyone??? My credit score just went up 21 points this past weekend, but still not enough. I haven't even touched this since I posted.

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by KoolAid

Anyone??? My credit score just went up 21 points this past weekend, but still not enough. I haven't even touched this since I posted.

When it reports term of 1 month that is incorrect as you have no contract with the ca.Now they do have a contract with the cra,sometimes it takes 60 days to report.It gives a appearance of being new.While you can dispute the one month term all they have to do is correct it.should report as paid.

[Trish]

If this were me (but keep that in mind because I'm a bit twisted).....I would call them up. You have nothing to lose, you've paid them.

I would call and "politely" remind them that this has been paid but yet they are continuing to report it incorrectly. Be sure to let them know that they are in violation of the FCRA.
They might have a "contract" (whatever) with the CRAs stating they will not do PFDs BUT there is NO LAW that states they HAVE to report it. BY LAW, though, they HAVE to report it correctly.
There is also nothing in their "contract", I'm sure, which states they can choose NOT to verify the info with the CRAs the next time you dispute it.

If this is a CA, then "terms - 1 mo" is a violation. There can also be no "limit" since it's not an open/revolving acct with a credit limit.

I would just be sure and explain to them that it's really silly for them to violate laws (which is punishable up to $1000) over a measly $32 debt........but if this is the way they want to continue, you have no problem filing complaints and filing a lawsuit in small claims court........which would cost them even more money. So you are doing them a favor by calling them one more time (out of the goodness of your heart......lol) and giving them one more chance to remove the debt from your credit reports.

Oh and it's BS that they say it takes 30 days 60 days......I had an OC fix a reporting error almost immediately (within 2 weeks) by contacting the CRAs to let them know there was an error.......they even gave me a control # and everything so that I could keep track of it in case it didn't get corrected. So don't let them tell you that. They can fix things a lot faster than they say they can.

And if the convo doesn't seem to go very well....... start filing complaints.
FTC, BBB, their state's AG and ACA International.

You should also go ahead and dispute it.

Just remember if you do call them.......keep your cool. DO NOT let them know you are upset. Be polite, be firm......you can even be a bit smug (they LOVE that....lol) but keep calm.

Good luck.

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by Trish

If this were me (but keep that in mind because I'm a bit twisted).....I would call them up. You have nothing to lose, you've paid them.

I would call and "politely" remind them that this has been paid but yet they are continuing to report it incorrectly. Be sure to let them know that they are in violation of the FCRA.
They might have a "contract" (whatever) with the CRAs stating they will not do PFDs BUT there is NO LAW that states they HAVE to report it. BY LAW, though, they HAVE to report it correctly.
There is also nothing in their "contract", I'm sure, which states they can choose NOT to verify the info with the CRAs the next time you dispute it.

If this is a CA, then "terms - 1 mo" is a violation. There can also be no "limit" since it's not an open/revolving acct with a credit limit.

I would just be sure and explain to them that it's really silly for them to violate laws (which is punishable up to $1000) over a measly $32 debt........but if this is the way they want to continue, you have no problem filing complaints and filing a lawsuit in small claims court........which would cost them even more money. So you are doing them a favor by calling them one more time (out of the goodness of your heart......lol) and giving them one more chance to remove the debt from your credit reports.

Oh and it's BS that they say it takes 30 days 60 days......I had an OC fix a reporting error almost immediately (within 2 weeks) by contacting the CRAs to let them know there was an error.......they even gave me a control # and everything so that I could keep track of it in case it didn't get corrected. So don't let them tell you that. They can fix things a lot faster than they say they can.

And if the convo doesn't seem to go very well....... start filing complaints.
FTC, BBB, their state's AG and ACA International.

You should also go ahead and dispute it.

Just remember if you do call them.......keep your cool. DO NOT let them know you are upset. Be polite, be firm......you can even be a bit smug (they LOVE that....lol) but keep calm.

Good luck.

Trish by reporting this it should tell us what jerks were dealing with.And should have no mercy when we get the chance to get back at them.

[KoolAid]

With them reporting incorrectly, if I tell them they are, do they HAVE to delete it off my report, or can they then "fix" their reporting & "correct" it so that it's legally reported?

[Trish]

Originally Posted by KoolAid

With them reporting incorrectly, if I tell them they are, do they HAVE to delete it off my report, or can they then "fix" their reporting & "correct" it so that it's legally reported?

They could correct it.... there is that chance.
I wouldn't tell them exactly what's wrong with their reporting......just that it's incorrect and they are violating laws. Let them figure it out. Most of the time on a debt so small, they will just want to be rid of you.