Experian updated an investigated account with false data

[blah123a]

I'm not certain how to word the title, but I asked for investigation of accuracy in to an account that was closed in 2007 as collection. This was paid and closed in 2007 and the credit reports always said this.

After sending the letter of investigation, it was deleted from Equifax and TransUnion however it was not deleted from Experian.

Experian has now basically filled out my report with random OK's, ND's, 90's and 120's finally saying OK in June 2010. This data is totally false and has now dropped my score a few points as well as shows a recent collection.

They also changed the account opening date from 2000 to 2007.

This made my credit report worse than had I not bothered it since it is now false.

What can I do now?

[Game Plan]

I would dispute and validate until they correct the report. However, I would not recommend sending in any proof of a paid collection to the CRAs. That would make it next to impossible to remove later.

[blah123a]

Thank you for the swift reply.

Is there anything that I should mention in the letter? I want them to understand that this is completely bogus and false information. Maybe that will convince them to simply delete it?

Thank you for your time.

[Hal Jordan]

Experian sucks and they are the worst to deal with about this kind of stuff. Once they "verify" something they dismiss all other disputes on that item as "duplicate requests already verified" and will do nothing.

You need to send a MOV or method of verification letter to them.

Your Name
Your Address

Date

CRA
CRA Address

Dear Consumer Relations:

After receiving and reviewing the results of a recent disputes sent to you, I am now requesting the method you used to verify certain items on the credit file dated 01/01/10, with Confirmation #1234567890. FCRA 611 (a)(6)(B )(iii) states that upon request you must provide me a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information. This includes, but is not limited to the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted in connection with such information and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available. I am requesting this for the following accounts:

ABC - 12345

XYZ – 67890

As stated in FCRA 611 (a)(7) you must provide this information no later than 15 days after receiving this request. I appreciate your handling of this request in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Your Name

[blah123a]

Thank you. I've written a similar letter and will send it. It boggles my mind that they updated it with such blatantly false information. It also sounds like they are punishing me for asking me to investigate it.

[jessetsi]

Experian is the worst - by far!

[Lian]

The issue, in my opinion, is whether or not the reported delinquencies occurred, and thus whether their reporting was accurate. It is not when they were reported.

Was their reporting merely an update of prior events or status, or was it the reporting of a delinquency that was never previously reported, and more importantly, never occurred?

If reported information is inaccurate, recourse is to dispute its accuracy with the party who reported it.

You don't "convince" a CRA that it is bogus, and ask them to investigate and delete. Their investigations don't include a legal process of proofs. They rely upon the FCRA dispute process, which requires them to refer the dispute to the party who reported the disputed information, and obtain verification from the reporting party. They don't employ detectives.

My advice is to send documentation of any incorrect or inaccurate credit reporting to the one who reported it by way of a direct dispute with them under FCRA 623(a)(8).

In response to your method of verification letter, you will most likely get a terse response saying that they referred it to the creditor who reported the disputed information, and that the creditor responded back with verification of its accuracy. They only have to identify who they referred it to, which you already know. I don't see much coming out of that. The real value of a MOV request is to specifically request whether they provided ALL supporting documentation to the creditor, or sanitized it by their e-Oscar automated dispute referral process.