I have an outstanding medical bill on my credit report for $35. I would normally not worry about this, but I am going to be buying a house in a few months so I wanted to get everything cleared up. My issue is that the agency that has put this on my credit report is "Montgomery County CB". Their listed phone number on my report is no longer in service. When I search for their address and phone number online, I get other collection companies. When I talk to those companies, they stated I do not have anything outstanding with them. I have disputed this charge with EQ since I have done everything I can to contact this agency, but cannot find them. EQ has not removed it. Any ideas on what to do next? The first day of delinquency is 2/2010 so it will be awhile if I just let it drop off.
Did you wait the 30 days for Equifax to complete its investigation? I know it's a painfully slow process. I'm currently waiting to hear back from them, so far no changes. If you heard back from them and they said no, try calling them to dispute it again. If the contact info they gave you is wrong you can probably just say that it's not relevant and they will most likely delete. I don't think that something can be reporting with no legit contact info.
Federal law (FCRA) is very clear; information on your report must be fully accurate. If Equifax does not remove after you dispute, send them a Procedural Request by certified mail - return receipt. Always correspond via certified mail - or fax. The telephone does not document your activities. Once you hang up, you have no proof of any commitments, facts, etc. The FCRA allows you to request the information used to "verify" disputed information. How could they "verify" if the debt reporter does not exist, is no longer in business, etc. Equifax must respond with the procedures they used in 15 days.
There is a difference between the clarity of the law, and the practice, read the FCRA report released in February to see that the practice falls significantly shorter than the clarity of the law.
Couldn't have said it better. And yes, give it the full 30 days before hitting them with the Procedural Request. If this CA is out of business it's gonna' be pretty challenging to get this debt validated...
The practice may fall short, but since the law is all we have, why not persistently pursue those rights? Yes, wait the full 30 days, but hit them with the PR.
ok... just an update. EQ finished my dispute review and found this charge to be "valid". I decided to call them today to discuss (even though I know I need to send something to them in writing). After waiting on hold for 30 mins, I finally got to talk with someone. I told them that the phone number this CA has listed is not valid. I asked HOW they could validate this debt if the contact information isn't good. They stated they do this all electronically. I told them I thought they had to provide me with valid contact information for anything that is on my credit report from them. She says they are providing me with a phone number and PO Box. We then went round and round about the number not being a working number. After asking to speak to a supervisor numerous times (in which she probably just put me on hold), she came back and said that I can send a letter to the PO Box disputing the charges to the CA. I asked what if that PO Box is also not valid and I don't get a reply. She stated that EQ would then 'automatically' remove it from my credit. Of course I asked HOW they would even know to remove it automatically, but she didn't have an answer. So, do I now do a Procedural Request to EQ or do I send a letter to the CA?
Procedure request will tell you the same thing as the results, we contact them and they respond. Thats it. I would send a dispute to the CA (when they get it, send the dispute of the invalid contact information to the CRA,) they will probably tell you it was previously verified. I would reply that they did not previously verify the contact information. If you get the letter returned, I would send a photocopy of the returned letter, after you get the next results which would probably be another previously verified.
