As some of you may have read, I have been in a war with Equifax (CSC of Houston) over splitting my file into two parts--Part 1 of 2 & Part 2 of 2. I could not access my report online anymore, Equifax could no longer score my report, and I could not even get a full copy by snail mail (I only got Part 2 of 2 and no score.) Of course all of this was caused by the infamous soft inquiry debaucle caused by Credit Watch. Equifax blamed CSC, CSC blamed Equifax, and nothing was resolved for 5 months. In addition to the lack of access, I had 5 accounts reinserted into my report while I was unable to see all of it. One day I had just had it. I fired off a letter to the President of CSC. I have become a letter writing machine in the last year, and the letter I sent to CSC was absolutely scathing. When I reread my letter this morning, my first thought was "I am lucky CSC didn't send the police to my house based on my tone and my threats!" THE GOOD NEWS............... My file is no longer split! Yea!!!!!!!!!! It was a miracle! My letter caused them to delete tons and tons and tons of soft inquiries (I had no hard inquiries at all). Here is the point that I think will be controversial. Here are the facts when I compare my last unsplit report dated 2/23/02 & my new improved 8/1/02 unsplit report: 1. My report is now combined into one file. 2. Nothing changed in my report other than 5 months more aging. I have no revolving debt & my mortgage has not re-reported anything new. I have 2 auto loans that are 5 months older. 3. All of my 10 "included in bk" accounts are still reporting as unrated. 4. My non-discharged CH 13 bk is still reporting. 5. Nothing is in dispute. 6. Five accounts have been reinserted, three of which went from unrated, included in bk to charge off with a current balance. MY SCORE ON 2/23/02 WAS 606. MY SCORE ON 8/1/02 WAS 695. THAT IS AN 89 POINT JUMP!!!!! THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS DELETION OF THE SOFT INQUIRIES!!!! I have been through these two reports with a fine tooth comb twice. Believe me, the deletion of the soft inquiries is the only difference on these reports (other than 5 more months on 2 auto loans and 1 mortgage all of which were current before and current now.) SOFT INQUIRIES HAVE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR SCORE. Okay, everyone, go ahead blast my theory! It seems crazy to me to, but I have no way to discount this. Lisa
I cannot provide you with an answer, but I have been wondering the same thing about how they have been scoring.
Tracy, they also threw in a free year of Credit Watch! If I got points for my trouble, I would be the only living, breathing American with a score of 930!
Glad that you have been able to get your file back together. I had/have similiar problems w/ EQ (but no provable damages like you have) so I really know how frustrating it was for you. Congrats! And as far as the soft inqs. impacting score, I wouldn't be surprised. In fact my Privista score has gone down a point or 2 each week (I can't get the "real" FICO either b/c of aforementioned problem) and the only changes have been the inqs. to pull Privista. I did the same thing. Compared the rpt line by line. No changes but the soft Privista inqs. So I would have to agree w/ you. Congrats again!
I have a lot of soft inquiries this year from Equ and my score hasn't changed because of it. There are three things that I can think of for your score increase: 1. Your credit file is getting older (more history) 2. Your derogs are getting older (less impact) 3. RNG
I agree it probably is one of the 3. If soft inquries hurt your scores, my 187 would have knocked me off the chart LOL. RNG= Random Number Generator
Random Number Generator - Trademarked by George. But congrats on getting your file fixed! I'm still battling them for access to Credit Watch. They're sending me a refund that I didn't even request. I just wanted access to my file. Let's see - FTC complaint filed - check, BBB complaint filed - check, Attorney General complaint filed - check, obtaining a lawyer - within the next week. I won't let up on these bastards. I'm tired of their games.
I hope you get them!! I think until they fix their system reagarding xx amount of times soft are pulled when obtaining your report and score ( which we all PAID for this service) I know eventually everyone is going to run into this problem and we will all see the dreaded 45d
I would buy the "aging of accounts" theory if the time span was a year or two. We are talking about 5 months. Also, that five month aging has not caused any of the accounts to cross over some great time line like three years or something substantial. Maybe you guys are all right. Maybe it is just the fact that the accounts have aged a little. If that is the case, this is truly a RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR. At 608, I am considered a bum by most lenders. At 695, I am a hero--just 5 points away from the hallowed 700 club. What's the difference? NOthing but 5 months of time passing. Does that 5 months make me a better credit risk? Absolutely not. RNG!!!!!!!!!!!
Owe less money... Accounts older... File older... "HARD" inquires older, 6+ months... Or...just maybe...RNG????????
George, there weren't any inquiries so that can't be it. I owe a little less money (most of the payment is going to interest at this point anyway so not enough for the CRA to get excited about). After much thought, I have determined why I gained 89 points. THIS IS A RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR!!!!!!!! GEORGE IS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
