Dealing with Equifax + dispute

jhelgesen · 08-13-2007, 04:07 AM

Anyone have any experience or tips in dealing with Equifax and the credit dispute process?

I've been signed up for credit alerts the last few months since I found out after applying for a loan that my ex wife had a dr's bill in collection in my name. Thought I had that fixed with the collector (calling them back today to check on it, supposed to take a few weeks).

Today I get an alert of a change, my current address has now been changed to my ex's address (OH H*LL NO!) I can't start an online dispute with them because they can't verify my address, duh.....so I have to go by phone or by mail......

Would a call to my lawyer be in order?

TIA

cashflyer · 08-13-2007, 04:23 AM

Everything SHOULD have been via certified mail from the start. Your rights can only be fully preserved by using certified mail for all dispute correspondence.

Call them to let them know that the address change is incorrect. The call lets them go ahead and put an immediate "flag" to your account. BUT FOLLOW UP WITH CERTIFIED MAIL.

Joeaksa · 08-13-2007, 04:55 AM

Good luck. The three credit reporting agencies normally could care less about your side of things and will only grudgingly change entries and only then when overwhelmed with proof.

jhelgesen · 08-13-2007, 04:58 AM

Talked to collection people already, tell me everything is good with that transaction, is in process of being erased from my report, so I just have the address issue to deal with. Fine print on the dispute section of Eqfax's site says I'll probably have to send them proof of my address in writing.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

While it can pull your score down, I believe most mortgage companies ignore medical collections.

Steve Carlton · 08-13-2007, 07:36 AM

Lenders know medical collections are often a mistake, but they don't ignore the FICO score. A recent collection can cost you 100 points. If it appears on two or more bureaus, you're screwed until it comes off or ages a couple of years.

Have the collection company fax (preferably) or mail you a letter stating that the collection is in error and should be removed and send it to Equifax yourself. Don't trust them to do anything; they often won't and you'll figure that out 2 months later.

jhelgesen · 09-20-2007, 05:43 AM

Of course Equifax and the Collection people still have stuff screwed up. Collection people say they pulled it on the 9th of sept, Equifax says they contacted them on the 10th and collection said it was still mine.......

Talked to both today, collection said ooops, sorry, we'll fix it. Equifax said ooops, sorry, we'll contact the collection place again......we'll see what happens......