Good day everyone, Before I get started, I apologize for the length that this post will be. After receiving a copy of my credit report following a probe into what I qualified for a home loan, I had immediately come across items in my report that were off. Initially, I had called the companies directly to search for additional information that would allow me to validate the information on the report. This however, was an incredible waste of time. Searching the internet, I came across a Springboard-consumer guide to good credit packet. Springboard is a nonprofit agency, and I deduced that any nonprofit willing to put together 122 pages worth of information should be reliable. I believe it was. This packet specified the process to follow when seeking additional information on a consumers credit report, which I followed to a t, based off the information that was on my credit report. A total of 12 certified mail requests for validation/verification were sent to various debt collection agencies, all with return receipt upon delivery. All items had been received as per the receipt information - all signed for and dated. With a 30 day window put into place, I waited for the information and in 30 days only 1 debt collection agency had contacted me back (5 of the 12 requests). It was overwhelming to have paid $140.00 in certified mail, to have hardly anything to show for it. The information that was provided from this debt collector (and the primary reason for my post on this forum) was inconsistent with information that was listed on my credit report. However phone conversations placed into this debt collection agency state otherwise. I then decided to make the 3 hour car trip, with newborn included to the address provided for the original collector. I was told by Stephanie Viera (spelling on last name may not be correct and everyone calls her Stevie) that all 5 accounts belonged to me. That though the insurance company made a single payment to 2 of the accounts on 8/1/2008, they are allowed to enter a $0.00 payment on 11/2010 that would be considered the date of last activity. On my credit report, it lists 11/2010 as the date in which this debt was opened (by the debt collection agency) with a date of last activity 02/2014. The date reported also lists 02/2014. They've entered this information on all 5 of the trade lines. In addition, she was "unable" to provide me any documentation from her system. Do people go to hospitals, yes. Does that generate 10 separate accounts for a visit? Back into the car, where I contacted the debt collection agencies vice president and legal manager to notify him of my trip to the original creditor. I explained that the documentation they had provided came back with 2/5 of the account being verified and with 3 copies of 1 of those 2 having been provided. That left still 3 accounts in which I had no more information then a dollar amount. He had said that this was a clerical error and apologized. There's been 10% interest applied to each account further convoluting things, that he was far more interested about then addressing the missing information. He had asked what I wanted, I want the information and the information not verifiable I want removed I replied - he said he'd place a call to a contact he had at the original creditor and would get back to me. Called back in 10 minutes to state he left a voice mail, and that he has documentation on 4/5 accounts. There's still one that he has no information on. He said he mail the information from the 2 accounts that hadn't originally been mailed during those 30 days requesting verification and started looking for payment on all accounts. Furthermore he's stated that the information that he's provided into the credit reporting agencies is legal and accurate. I have no qualms with paying for a debt which is owed. However, when your credit score drops 150 points in 2 months - somethings isn't right. Phone conversations that I've recorded, the most recent with Brooke Kimble have further made things interesting as the dates that she's provided differ from everything all together. In addition, she confirmed that no contact had ever been established prior to my initial phone call on 05/2014. If anyone has a moment, might they provide me with their conclusions of the situation? I'd appreciate any information that's provided, and I thank you.
#1, there is no requirement that a CA contact you within 30 days of sending a validation request. (The 30 day limit is for when you dispute through a CRA.) Rule #1 is to not use the telephone, always force them to put things into writing, the phone is always an inconvenient time or place to be contacted. If their validation varies in any way, shape or form from what they have on the credit report; send a dispute listing the exact discrepancies to the CRAs that they are reporting to; if they verify the information in any way, shape or form that's different from what they've provided in the validation. File a lawsuit in the local United States District Court clerks office. (It doesn't have to be complex, and can be done without an attorney.) You are talking about $1,000 for the FDCPA for reporting false credit information; and $100-$1,000 (request $1,000) for every single dispute that they verify, with every single credit reporting agency. So if the account is reporting on all three CRAs you are talking about $4,000 after the $140.00 in certified mail letters.
