Advice on Clearing up a few items!

[raptor]

I have done some reading here, lots of good stuff here too!

I started clearing some items up on mine and my wife's reports by doing the free credit reports! I think I have gotten all the easy one's off or corrected.

I have a Chap 7 BK discharged in 07, & 2 collection items...I really need these gone as I currently hold a secret clearance and these items do raise a brow when the renewal of that clearance comes around in the next 4 years. Also, I would like to buy a house in the spring of next year.

I realize I should have paid and disputed everything by mail, wish I would have found this forum first. Anyway how should I proceed from here? I am waiting to receive the investigation results for a couple of items from a couple of the agencies, and I expect they won't remove them since they are related to the BK. My first priority is the collections though.

[chane]

It sounds like you are on the right path. If you start disputing in writing and dispute them correctly, don't be so sure the bankruptcy won't be deleted.

Stay persistent and keep disputing. With the collections, you can try the 1-2 punch or a pay for delete.

[raptor]

Since i started online disputes can i change to written or should i write requesting a new report?

[chane]

You can change to written, but you must wait the full 30 days for another round of disputes.

[raptor]

all my disputes are closed and some stuff dropped off, i started online and want to get them in the 30 day response cycle...can i switch to paying for reports and then disputing...the hard things are left a couple of collections and a BK.

[chane]

Yes, you can switch, just make sure you are allowing the full 30 days before sending out new disputes, whether it is online or by letter.

[raptor]

they all say investigation complete, not sure when i initiated each one...i am pretty sure some are not 30 days old yet. so even thou they say complete still wait until 30 days are up?

[chane]

Yes, you must wait at least 30 days, even if they came back early.

[raptor]

I have received replies from the credit agencies and still getting the response that items were previously verified and wont be updated. I sent one of the sample letter asking for proof of verification. Trans union report is very accurate and not reporting the discrepant items.
Any advise from here?

[JeremyKean]

I have dealt with similar situations and was successful with getting them removed. Sometimes it does take patience. Here are a few tips that I would do if I was working with you

1. Pull out a copy of your bankruptcy discharge paperwork, any documentation you have of that collection, and a copy of your most recent credit report. Look at the small stuff for example, the account number, the open date, the date of last activity, the current status. Even though this was discharged and legally can still report, does not mean that it does not have to be 100% accurate. The accuracy is typically where the errors are so focus on the details.

2. Make sure you send a totally custom letter to the credit bureaus. If you use a template you are likely to have an automated "we investigated this and sorry about your luck" letter come back otherwise known as canned stall tactic letters.

3. Write a dispute letter to the creditor as well as the bureau. They have no upside to continue to report, but they do have potential liability if there is misreporting going on. Since there is no upside you can typically get them to remove.

4. Put a reminder in the calender, they only have 30 days to respond, send a 2nd round dispute the second you dont have something back from them within the 30 days.

Let me know how it goes!