I didn't get anywhere talking to BoA, they just kept passing me around. There's no way to get in online with a closed account either. In a later conversation with an Experian rep, I found that it was not a late payment in March 2003, but they said it was first reported and reported as charged off. I pulled some old 04-05 credit reports, and sure enough, the earliest reporting period is March 2003. However, they're only looking at a 24 month window. In addition, I have a credit report from 1999 that shows it reporting adversely. BoA bought Fleet in 2003, but it was later that year if I recall. They weren't transferring accounts in March were they? There has to be some event that has caused Experian to make their assumptions. I don't have any reports between 99 and 04 to see how it was reporting back then. Gaps aren't uncommon, though. BoA hasn't reported on this account since 1/06 - so there's a 15 month period right now in which no status has been reported. Experian insists that they won't drop it until 2010 even though I sent them a copy of the 1999 report. I've filed FTC complaints against Experian and BoA. Any other ideas?
If BofA is reporting, they are required to report the date of first delinquency to the CRA within 90 days. If that field is blank, and that is causing the CRA to use, say, the date they reported the information to the CRA instead, then BofA has violated FCRA by failing to report first date of delinquency as required. Experian has violated FCRA by failing to maintain systems to ensure their own compliance with the FCRA requirement that they not report negative information 7.5 years past the original date of delinquency. If 7.5 years has actually passed, and they are still reporting because there is no original date of delinquency, then they are also in violation for still reporting, since with the information they have, they could determine that they cannot comply.
Did you try "registering" on line with BoA? With all their merger activity, all of their acquired accounts have been showing up. You may also try www.fiacardservices.com this is BoA's service dept for "closed" accounts. Also, what "departments" did you speak with at BoA, I know it is torture being passed around, but their North Carolina offices handle the CO accounts.
To make numbers a part of the permanent record: - BoA ChargeOff Dept - 800-475-2025 - BoA ChargeOff Dept Fax - 336-805-3525 I got through to a helpful lady in the CO dept who informed me that there has been no activity on the account since 4/1999. Furthermore, the debt was satisfied and the account closed at that time. She gave me the above fax number to send a letter reiterating our conversation and requesting that they delete it. She promised she would send it through and get it taken care of. Lesson of the day: KEEP GOOD RECORDS Here's why: As it seems to turn out, this account was one I paid off when we got a 2nd mortgage back in March 1999. We didn't run into bad credit problems until later and I started trying to rebuild credit around the beginning of 2004. By that time, I had forgotten anything about old accounts and because I had so many derogatory lines, I just assumed what was in my credit report was accurate - as long as it was mine. We moved a couple of times, and things got lost in the shuffle or forever hidden in moving boxes. I can't put my hands on anything that tells me what accounts were folding into that 2nd (thus the repeated advice to keep good records). This is the only one remaining on my report that could have been from that time, so I guess that's the good news. The bad news is that TU and EQ reported this as an Unpaid CO for 7 years and EX has been reporting it that way for over 8 years now!! I could have at the least had it show as PAID. That, and I've been chasing my tail on this account for over 2 years now! Word to the Wise - learn from my grievous error...
