Experian's "verification" (long)

Discussion in 'Credit Talk' started by rfmjb, Aug 26, 2003.

  1. rfmjb

    rfmjb Member

    Woohoo! One deletion of a collection, one confirmed late payment on my Exxon Mobile gas card. 50% success rate.

    Before DH and I got our mortgage in April, I got Exxon to remove the one late payment I found on my record. They even sent me a letter of apology. Somehow, Experian is the only Credit Reporting agency that keeps 'verifying' this one late payment. To get this fixed, they want me to contact the original creditor. *grrrowl* I already have. Exxon has already sent an update that the other two CRAs have accepted back in April. so I ask you all, HOW IS EXPERIAN VERIFYING the information?

    quoted from my recent online Experian investigation (they sent the investigation results online too):

    _________________________________________
    How we verified the information
    When you question information on your credit report and tell us specifically why you believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete, Experian contacts the source of the information directly by letter, telephone, or through an automated verification system. We ask the source to check their records to verify all of the information regarding the item you questioned, and report back to us within 30 days of the date that we received your request (21 days for Maine residents). Once we receive their response, we will send you the results of the investigation. If we do not receive a response from the source within 30 days (21 days for Maine residents), we will update the item as you have requested or delete the information, and we will send you the results.

    If you request it, we will provide you with the name and the address (and telephone number if available) of any creditor we contact. Or, you may refer to the initial copy of your personal credit report for this information.

    If you are not satisfied with the results of the investigation, you have the right to contact the creditor directly or to request that we add a statement to your credit report. If you have additional relevant information about the item, you may mail it to us and request another investigation.

    If an investigation results in a change to your credit report, you may request that we send the updated information to any credit grantors who have reviewed your information in the past six months (twelve months for Colorado, Maryland and New York) and to any company that reviewed your information in the past two years for employment purposes.
    Contact us:
    1-800-493-1058
    PO Box 9556
    Allen, TX 75013
    Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm in your time zone.
    ------------------------------------------------
    *LOL* vague enough for everyone?
    so I will call tomorrow and ask for the specifics of the investigation. Maybe I can fax the Exxon apology?

    The struggle continues...
     
  2. crowmom

    crowmom Well-Known Member

    all i can say is: join the club, don't take it personally, and i know exactly how you feel. sue their butts, because writing letters and calling won't get you anywhere. They are like talking to a brick wall. Demand verification procedure in writing so that they can violate the FCRA. Dispute 3 or 4 times so they can rack up some more violations (not verifying per FCRA) and you can rack up a larger paper trail. thats what i'm doing and i'm filing suit on Sept 17th. I hope their legal dept is as dense as Matthew (the CSR) i talked to on the phone the other day. probably wont get that lucky tho.
     
  3. rhondak

    rhondak Well-Known Member

    I've had the same problem with Experian. I've had about 5 things taken off of the other two CRAs (companies are no longer even in business) yet Experian keeps "verifying". They are the only ones still carrying 4 or 5 items that the other two have removed.

    I've started sending them individual letters on those accounts (they started telling me they were frivolous since I've asked them to re-investigate) but I told them in the letters that if the creditor themselves can't verify them, how can they?
     
  4. crowmom

    crowmom Well-Known Member

    oh, i forgot to add...if you call Experian and demand they explain their verification procedure (which we are lawfully entitled to btw) they will give you some crap about 'automated' verification. I firmly believe that no one at Experian checks any thing at all, but if what they say is true, all they have to do with this new automated system is go online and SIMPLY USE THEIR EYEBALLS to verify an account. easy, huh? Too bad everyone at Experian is too stupid/lazy/inconsiderate to use such an easy system.
     
  5. dharma bum

    dharma bum Member

    Last year I called Experian to ask how they could verify an account that didn't exist on the OC's system.

    First call: "We send a letter to the OC and they respond to it". So, I sent a letter to the OC at the address that EX listed and the letter was returned "Undeliverable".

    Second call: "Oh, it's done computer to computer" Evidently, EX has unimpeded access to every OC and CA's computer system and they can just verify to their heart's content.

    I feel your pain in dealing with EX. Good luck !!
     
  6. rhondak

    rhondak Well-Known Member

    In my case where some of their so-called verified accounts are out of business, they still couldn't do "computer to computer". That is just stupid. They aren't verifying. Plain and simple.

    They really ought to be investigated by the govt because I think they are breaking the law wholesale on their so-called verifications.

    The problem is - how do you prove that they aren't actually verifying?
     
  7. crowmom

    crowmom Well-Known Member

    In my case, I got the OC on tape saying that Experian never contacted them, and that Experian knows good and well that all they have to do is get online and look it up. The OC's legal dept rep actually got online (while we were on the phone, and i was recording) to view exactly what Experian would see if they bothered to look, and she said "yes, we updated the account...I am looking at exactly what Experian would see... Your name was removed in MAY." She also agreed to send me something in writing confirming everything she said on the phone. This will come in handy in court.

    Hello Experian? YOU'RE BUSTED.

    Thats how I prove that they arent actually verifying.
     
  8. rhondak

    rhondak Well-Known Member

    It may get to that point with me. I just posted in another thread - got a letter from Experian yesterday that they needed my ID info AGAIN. I've already sent them all that - copy of drivers license, two bills to show correct address, etc. And I sent all that in May of this year. Apparently they expect me to send that with every letter I send to them.

    I'm about ready to send an intent to sue type letter but I don't really think I'm ready to sue. I don't know the laws well enough yet - just wouldn't feel comfortable doing it yet.

    Also, I don't have anything from an OC that proves they never contacted them...YET.

    Just started getting my green cards back yesterday, too.

    But also got a new collection letter - they wouldn't have had our address if I hadn't sent the validation letter. I thought all collection activity was supposed to stop when an account was in dispute?
     
  9. lbrown59

    lbrown59 Well-Known Member

    .But also got a new collection letter - they wouldn't have had our address if I hadn't sent the validation letter.
    10*I thought all collection activity was supposed to stop when an account was in dispute?
    rhonda k
    ================
    $1000.00



    THE END ** *** ** LB 59
    """"```--~~~~~~~~~--```'""'''
     
  10. rhondak

    rhondak Well-Known Member

    That's what I thought.

    Guess it's time to send another letter. Validation #2 (crrr this time) I sent the first validation regular mail (It was before I found this site - I didn't know - I figured the date on the letter would be enough)

    OH! This is kind of strange - not sure what will come of it:

    Before I found this site I was following the steps from another site which said to send a letter to the AG in the state where the OC/CA is doing business. So I did that. ALL of those green cards came back AND today I got letters from most of them - one of them forwarded my letter to the FTC and another one forwarded my letter to a Consumer Protection Office. They also sent me a copy of what they sent to these people and the wording is VERY strong.

    The one that sent the letter to the FTC is the one that I REALLY REALLY need off the credit report. It's past SOL, OC and CA are both reporting it with different dates and amounts, etc. It's a mess, and it's the only thing on the report over $1000.
     
  11. rhondak

    rhondak Well-Known Member

    Thats how I prove that they arent actually verifying.

    Crowmom - how you ever got them to say that on tape is beyond me! Holy cow! That's great.

    So then you talked to Experian after that???
     
  12. holis

    holis Well-Known Member

    Yikes - I called Exp. last night about some old addresses and "verification" and I was sent to the "Special Services" department. I quickly found that these are the people doing the Flagging! got off the phone very quick!
     
  13. eddunn1

    eddunn1 Active Member

    I am having the same problem with experian AND trans union. at least trans union is making subtle changes a little at a time when i request an investigation. experian pretty much ignores the complaints. problem #2- i called the local small claims court about filing suit against them, asked the judge, whom i got to speak to, about the filing procedures. he told me that he knew of no legal recourse in small claims for dealing with the cra????? anybody got any info on this? thanks....ed dunn
     
  14. jlynn

    jlynn Well-Known Member

    § 618. Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions [15 U.S.C. § 1681p]

    An action to enforce any liability created under this title may be brought in any appropriate United States district court without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, within two years from the date on which the liability arises, except that where a defendant has materially and willfully misrepresented any information required under this title to be disclosed to an individual and the information so misrepresented is material to the establishment of the defendant's liability to that individual under this title, the action may be brought at any time within two years after discovery by the individual of the misrepresentation.
     

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